I have some questions about glaucoma and cataracts, and I don’t go to the opthamologist for another couple of weeks?

I know we have a couple eye docs.
Bcrus [grossly misspelled] or something like that is one of them, I think.

One has the CUT: Light bender, eye mender

Yep, bcereuss.

Member GJG is also some sort of eye doc.

I have some rudimentary knowledge. When you remove cataracts your pressures decrease within the eye, often eliminating active treatment for glaucoma. Cataract remove is routine these days and performed on an outpatient basis.

I had my cataracts removed in Jan 2024 and had PanOptix trifocal lenses implanted. Have not worn readers since and I'm happy with results. I'll be glad to answer questions from a patient's perspective.

It’s not the cataracts that has the concern that seems like a pretty straightforward and permanent easy fix. I have another issue going on that I hope doesn’t include cataracts surgery that really has been freaked out.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
I have some rudimentary knowledge. When you remove cataracts your pressures decrease within the eye, often eliminating active treatment for glaucoma. Cataract remove is routine these days and performed on an outpatient basis.

Thank you that makes me feel a lot better. Neither my regular eye doctor, or the VA eye doctor really explained it very well to me to be honest I was pretty freaked out and so which questions to ask at the moment.

What’s the other issue?

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
I have some questions about glaucoma and cataracts

I'd be happy to toss in my $.02

Ocular hypertension but now maybe glaucoma perhaps some damage to the optic nerve. Really trying to get a feeling for a prognosis.

Check with the VA as you might be able to be refered to a civilian doctor in the private sector that might be able to calm your fears and help you at the same time. ......................................... drill sgt.

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Check with the VA as you might be able to be refered to a civilian doctor in the private sector that might be able to calm your fears and help you at the same time. ......................................... drill sgt.

The VA eye Doc set me up with community care and I had an appt within a week but it was a 8 week wait.

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:

quote:

Originally posted by drill sgt:
Check with the VA as you might be able to be refered to a civilian doctor in the private sector that might be able to calm your fears and help you at the same time. ......................................... drill sgt.

The VA eye Doc set me up with community care and I had an appt within a week but it was a 8 week wait.

I needed cataract surgery I asked the VA Dr what they do about that. She said I could go to the VA hospital in New Orleans.
I told her I wasn't going to NOLA that I wanted the same Dr. that did my girlfriend's surgery in Baton Rouge. She said she would put me in a referral for me.
That was about 2pm on a Friday and on Monday the eye surgeon's office called me to set up my appointment. I had a great Community Care Surgeon everything was great.

Good luck with yours let us know how it goes.

Thank you

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
Ocular hypertension but now maybe glaucoma perhaps some damage to the optic nerve. Really trying to get a feeling for a prognosis.

For a good answer, more info is needed. What were your pressures? Your optic nerve appearance (one shorthand way to express this is "C/D" -cup to disk - ratio). The higher the ratio the more damage is present. Visual fields graphically show where the nerves are damaged. Corneal thickness factors into the equation. Thin corneas under ~540µ are a risk factor. Optical Coherence Tomographers (acronym OCT) map out nerve appearance and, along with photos taken over time, can show progression - or lack of progression, the hallmark of glaucoma. It's hard to give an idea of prognosis without detailed info - but, in general, glaucoma is very treatable and is a disease process measured in decades, with multiple treatments available. Drugs (drops - typically latanoprost, a prostaglandin, timolol, a beta blocker, and many others), laser treatments to the "angle" - the meshlike drain system to increase facility of fluid outflow analogous to cleaning a coffee filter, and installation of micro valves akin to water heater pop valves. These can be installed during cataract surgery and constitute a whole new approach to glaucoma called MIGS - micro invasive glaucoma surgery. Often, especially if the chamber angle (think drain) is crowded, just doing cataract surgery which replaces the natural, clouded lens with a much thinner replacement, will open up the angle and reduce pressures.

Glaucoma treatment is a rapidly advancing field, unfortunately with lots of conflicting data and contrary opinions from experts. The takehome points are: 1) the disease process itself is mysterious to a degree 2) high pressure is associated with the process, usually, but not always 3) all treatments are directed at lowering pressure, because clinically, that is all that can be done 4) it is a very slow process giving lots of time to make adjustments to the treatment plan, with many different options to treat 5) it is a chronic process requiring long term treatment and monitoring 6) you know you're on the right track treatment wise when the indicators of progressive damage turn stable over time. Patience, and perseverance, are a necessary part of the deal.

I can probably access most of the info going back 35 years. My last visit to the optometrist has some of that info, at least it sounds like this is treatable.

Is there anyway to repair damage to the optic nerve?

For anyone freaked about the idea of having an eye cut open to correct a cataract, my two experiences within the past few months:

The only pain was the insertion of an IV needle in my hand. The second time it was less, probably because the nurse was more skilled.

I was given an IV sedative that didn’t put me all the way out, but as the doctor put it, “You won’t care [about what’s happening].” And I didn’t.

The eye anesthetic was by drops; no jabs or even touching.

During the procedure I felt nothing in the eye, and the only thing I saw was a bright light against a black background.

My vision was blurry for about 24 hours, and then cleared up. The eye felt a little irritated for a time, but also cleared up.

As I’ve told others, both experiences were less painful and stressful than having a tooth filled. I obviously can’t guarantee that for anyone else, but will wish you good fortune.

Good thread for me to find.
I have glaucoma and a cataract in one eye.
Glaucoma is under control with drops.
Cataract surgery scheduled for July.
Also have an astigmatism in that eye.
Of course all this is going on in my right/dominant eye.
Trying to see the sights is a joy, hoping for improvement.

My right eye is dominant and although I had perfect distant vision in it for most of my life, it had deteriorated significantly over the past several years. One very noticeable effect was how I saw projected dot reticles (Aimpoints): the blurry “bunch of grapes” description.

I don’t believe that was astigmatism per se, and was probably just due to the effect of the cataract because after my surgery and telling the surgeon that I wanted the best distant vision I could get in that eye, the reticles are back to sharp round dots. The front sights of handguns held at full extension aren’t absolutely sharp, but they are much better than before the surgery.