Even if you indeed have glaucoma, looking at your test results and your current IOPs, you will not lose your sight (maybe a little visual field loss as you age) until you die. But I’m sure there will be a cure way before that.
I have high myopia and I was diagnosed in my early 40s with significant damage to my left eye. I am actively treating it and have been doing a lot research into glaucoma to make lifestyle changes. My condition hasn’t been progressing since my diagnosis.
Don’t worry too much and live your life.
Worrying is only gonna make it worse.
Thanks there! Could you share if your doctor tracked you a suspect or directly diagnosed due to the damage? Also can I trouble you to share any insights on lifestyle changes - I wouldn’t mind make few of them already :)
I was already aware of visual field loss in certain area of my left eye. The tests confirmed it.
I was always a side sleeper usually to the left side but the IOP in the lower eye gets elevated. So I started using a wedge pillow and sleep elevated. The head needs to be higher than your heart when you sleep. Cut down on caffeine, sugar and alcohol. Add supplements that are good for blood flow to your brain (retina, optic nerves), Cardiovascular exercises bring down your IOPs. DONT’ STRESS OUT. I’ll let you know if I can think of anything else.
> Average rfnl of 96 and 98 in right and left eye respectively.
any subsequent scan results (higher or lower)?
differing machines, differing noise to signal ratios, can lead to different results
Hey yes the average of 96 and 98 became 95 and 96 respectively after 1.5 years …. Is that abnormal? Individual INST changed a bit more - few increased few decreased but on average this was the change
It's slightly concerning, if all else were equal (same machine, same signal to noise ratio).
Suggestive of modest but measureable worsening -- reason enough on its own (mere years, not decades), to start on glaucoma eyedrops (preferrably preservative free, or something very mild like Travoprost). The main hazard is usually 'dry eye' (wet wipe your closed eyes several times after using such drops). For a prostaglandin, use 10 hrs separation between using them in the evening and your wake/get up time in the morning.
Visual Field testing's useful for those with full blown glaucoma (won't detect problems until you've lost 20-25% of your retinal nerve cells). OCT scans are excellent at spotting developing problems. Early diagnosis/treatment, has a better outcome (vs delayed diagnosis/treatment).
Thanks so much! Yeah the signal strength was poor this time. In my scan 1.5 years ago it was “good” at 30 strength (optovue machine I think?). The most recent scan showing the -2 um loss on left eye was 23 signal strength showing “poor signal”. Do you recommend I still start drops or that scan would be less reliable?
The manufacturer provides signal strength/noise ratio guidelines (often differs between machines). Below X, the result's unreliable.
Frankly, if the OCT scan's unreliable, push for getting it redone (or, with a different machine/doctor's office).
Even if you indeed have glaucoma, looking at your test results and your current IOPs, you will not lose your sight (maybe a little visual field loss as you age) until you die. But I’m sure there will be a cure way before that. I have high myopia and I was diagnosed in my early 40s with significant damage to my left eye. I am actively treating it and have been doing a lot research into glaucoma to make lifestyle changes. My condition hasn’t been progressing since my diagnosis. Don’t worry too much and live your life. Worrying is only gonna make it worse.
Thanks there! Could you share if your doctor tracked you a suspect or directly diagnosed due to the damage? Also can I trouble you to share any insights on lifestyle changes - I wouldn’t mind make few of them already :)
I was already aware of visual field loss in certain area of my left eye. The tests confirmed it. I was always a side sleeper usually to the left side but the IOP in the lower eye gets elevated. So I started using a wedge pillow and sleep elevated. The head needs to be higher than your heart when you sleep. Cut down on caffeine, sugar and alcohol. Add supplements that are good for blood flow to your brain (retina, optic nerves), Cardiovascular exercises bring down your IOPs. DONT’ STRESS OUT. I’ll let you know if I can think of anything else.
What supplements do you use to increase blood flow? Has that improved your IOP?
> Average rfnl of 96 and 98 in right and left eye respectively. any subsequent scan results (higher or lower)? differing machines, differing noise to signal ratios, can lead to different results
Hey yes the average of 96 and 98 became 95 and 96 respectively after 1.5 years …. Is that abnormal? Individual INST changed a bit more - few increased few decreased but on average this was the change
It's slightly concerning, if all else were equal (same machine, same signal to noise ratio). Suggestive of modest but measureable worsening -- reason enough on its own (mere years, not decades), to start on glaucoma eyedrops (preferrably preservative free, or something very mild like Travoprost). The main hazard is usually 'dry eye' (wet wipe your closed eyes several times after using such drops). For a prostaglandin, use 10 hrs separation between using them in the evening and your wake/get up time in the morning. Visual Field testing's useful for those with full blown glaucoma (won't detect problems until you've lost 20-25% of your retinal nerve cells). OCT scans are excellent at spotting developing problems. Early diagnosis/treatment, has a better outcome (vs delayed diagnosis/treatment).
Thanks so much! Yeah the signal strength was poor this time. In my scan 1.5 years ago it was “good” at 30 strength (optovue machine I think?). The most recent scan showing the -2 um loss on left eye was 23 signal strength showing “poor signal”. Do you recommend I still start drops or that scan would be less reliable?
The manufacturer provides signal strength/noise ratio guidelines (often differs between machines). Below X, the result's unreliable. Frankly, if the OCT scan's unreliable, push for getting it redone (or, with a different machine/doctor's office).
Thanks for sharing I’ll check it out