(Wasn't sure where to post this - science, tips, lounge, etc., so feel free to move.)

Anyway, does anyone know about glaucoma? I've checked out some websites, but they don't seem to answer my questions (and I absolutely can't look at those pictures of eyes - livers, hearts, fine - eyes, can't stand to see).

I'm asking because my boyfriend has been referred to an opthalmologist. He says he's always had high eye pressure, but when he went to get his eyes checked on Sunday (at a new place), they took photos of his eyes/retina and (after my boyfriend told the doctor he's always had high pressure) was told he could have glaucoma. He has high eye pressure and was told on Sunday that his optic nerve is enlarged.

So I was looking for any information on enlarged optic nerves, what percentage of people who have high eye pressure go on to be diagnosed with glaucoma, basically any information that I can show my boyfriend that it's not a foregone conclusion that he's going to go blind. (Right now he's being a 'guy' and saying he's not worried/stressed about it, but he is an artist/web designer and I really think he's just trying not to get *me* upset...)

My dad had it and went completely blind. This was because he was pig headed and refused to get it treated until it was too late. There are ops and treatment. This I know.

Yeah, what I'm finding is that there are eyedrops and laser surgeries that can help slow/stop the damage. But what I'm not finding is any mention of what percentage of people are helped by either treatment and what percentage of the people who do these treatments end up blind anyway.

My grandfather and am un-related great-uncle both went blind in my family... I'm not sure why, medically, each did, but they were both in their 60s or so when they did go blind. Watching "America's Next Top Model" with the one character who is about my age and going blind and being worried about my boyfriend just feels *odd* to me as I don't usually associate going blind with people my own age - it's an 'old people's thing' in my mind...

I'm just glad I kept nagging my boyfriend to get his eyes checked. He had been complaining of more headaches lately and it's been at least 2 years since he had them checked (I was always taught you go once a year)...

Here is a bit of info from the Kaiser-Permanente website:

"What Increases Your Risk
Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma include:

High pressure in the eyes. Open-angle glaucoma is often associated with higher-than-normal pressure in the eyes (intraocular pressure, or IOP). As many as 10% of people over age 40 have higher-than-normal IOP (pressure above 21 millimeters of mercury [mm Hg]). Some studies have indicated that among people with high IOP, only about 10% develop vision loss from glaucoma. Other studies indicate that 15% to 40% of people with high IOP develop some vision loss within 10 years. High pressure in the eyes is the one treatable risk factor for open-angle glaucoma. However, raised pressure in the eyes alone is not enough to diagnose glaucoma and does not always require treatment.
Age. The risk for glaucoma increases rapidly after a person reaches age 40. People age 70 and older are about 4 to 7 times more likely to develop glaucoma than people 40 to 50 years old.
Race. In the United States, blacks are 4 times more likely than whites to have glaucoma. Also, one study showed that blacks over age 30 had an increased risk of developing glaucoma at an earlier age than whites.9 Blacks with glaucoma are more likely than whites to develop severe damage to the optic nerve.
Family history of glaucoma. People who have family members with open-angle glaucoma are at greater risk of developing the condition. Relatives of people with primary open-angle glaucoma have about a 9 times greater risk of developing glaucoma. Changes within the eye (enlarged cup-disc ratio), not increased pressure in the eye, may be the first sign of glaucoma in these people.
Prior loss of vision in one eye from glaucoma. Damage in one eye from glaucoma is associated with a higher risk of future damage in the other eye. If untreated, the risk that damage will occur in the other eye within 5 years is about 29%."

Elsewhere on the site, it says that the success of different treatments depends a great deal on those factors such as age,race, etc. But it also says that glaucoma is very uncommon in people under 40.

Here's a link to the entire health article on the sie; there's lots of info there, I hope some of it helps.

Glaucoma Info

Taesma, thank you very much for finding that for me. I only found one site that was from Canada, but that just had stats for glaucoma in the general population (~4%, if you're wondering).

Talking with my parents tonight, they reminded me that the things the optometrist found could just be my boyfriend's 'normal'. For example, my dad has a blood syndrome where it looks like something's wrong, but in reality that's just how my dad normally is when healthy.

Hopefully, Paul (my boyfriend) will get an appointment soon with an opthalmologist soon and we can find out.

The waiting and worrying is sheer hell Beth, I hope he gets his appointment very soon.

Beth, this article has just appeared on the BBC website. I thought it might be of interest to you.

Well, he had his appointment this morning and it's good news. Apparently he has thick corneas that make it look like his eye pressure is high plus the puff of air test isn't as accurate as the 'shove a stick in your eye' test. So his recorded eye pressure is 23 (22 is the high end of normal), but it's probably lower than that because of his thick corneas. He also had a bunch of other tests and 2 doctors who looked at his optic nerves and declared them normal with no damage.

Phew.

Thanks for all the help and such...

Oh, and I was looking at that article and you know what? I think the majority of computer users are short-sighted anyway, I'd like to see further studies into that relationship... (I am such a lover of stats.

Good news Beth, and I am glad to hear it.

Yippee!
Glad it's turned out ok.

By the way, I meant to say before that my name is Beth, too.

Such a lovely name
Where I come from it is short for Bethan, or Bethany

hi ladymacb29
the reason i have started adding goodhealth to my peacelovejoy close
is due to how much effect good health has on our lives.
i know how concerned you must be given the information above
you and your boyfriend may want to seek

Congenital Optic Nerve Anomalies
Patricia A. Modica O.D., F.A.A.O., Assistant Clinical Professor
State University of New York, State College of Optometry

Take the Self-Assessment Test Online or Download the Answer Sheet
might also want to check out megalopanilla and/or Krabbe's Disease?
the self-assessment was a click as was the answer sheet but i guess that didn't transfer but since i gave the name of the doctor that might be enough.
goodhealthpeacelovejoy
drbob