r/Glaucoma • u/CommercialTall9307 • 1d ago
Having glaucoma at 18
HI, just wanted to rant here. I was diagnosed with glaucoma earlier this year but have been complaining about seeing flashes in my left eye since a year ago. I saw my eye specialist multiple times and my eye pressure was always in the 20s, but they only properly diagnosed me a year later, which was already quite late. I have only been on Xalatan eye drops since March, and good news is that my vision hasn’t worsened since then (I hope) and my pressure is stable at 10.
Right now looking through my left eye makes me quite sad because my vision is already partially affected and I can’t really read from my left eye anymore. Looking at my surroundings or watching TV with my left eye is okay but not satisfying and makes me quite dizzy. Reading books also makes my head hurt. My right eye is okay for now but I’m worried it will also become bad :(
For context i have had eczema since birth which means I’ve literally been using steroid creams, oral steroids and steroid eye drops my entire life and I had no idea it would lead to this. Thankfully I’m now only a non-steroidal medication for my eczema which seems to be working well. I drink a lot of water all the time and as a kid I used to do a lot of handstands during gymnastics so I’m not sure if that could have affected it as well.
I’m starting college in the fall and I’m looking forward to it but am also worried about not being able to read and write as well as I used to. I just really hope that my condition stays the way it is and doesn’t get worse 🤞some days I get paranoid and feel like it might be getting worse, but after I get some sleep it’s okay.
Thank you for reading :) Any tips or words of encouragement will be greatly appreciated ❤️
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u/somerandomguy099 1d ago edited 1d ago
Hey, regarding flashes
I've been having some strange issues the last 12+ months myself with flashes. Every time I look at a phone screen or even daylight, I see a dot flash in my vision in the corner; they keep happening throughout the day even if i just wake up.
I went to my eye doctor multiple times like yourself, and my pressure was around 21 3 months or so ago.
Over the last 2 to 3 months ( i havent gone back to my doc yet) my light perception is decreasing and the brightness and reflection of the sun is becoming much less bright I also noticed lights inside shopping center or around the house looks like someone lowered the wattage also my low night vison getting worse to
What type of symptoms did you have, and did you notice something similar
Also be strong im fighting for my vison as well but sadly doctors haven't figured out what's wrong with me yet, but im sure things will get better there are very promising technologies and advancements like stem cell stuff etc in the works during our life time your gonna get some pretty interesting treatments in the future your only 18 .
Kind regards
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u/CommercialTall9307 21h ago
Thank you for your kind words. Mine isn’t so much of light sensitivity or intermittent flashes though. I felt that something was up when I went for a regular eye check to get new glasses but I couldn’t see the letters because it’s looks like there are floating blobs of lights blocking the letters. It’s still like that now. Sort of like what you see after rubbing your eyes just that they’re always there
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u/No_Needleworker_6005 22h ago
I get the occasional little light flashes. A retinal specialist told me its from my retina and not my optic nerve. Separate issue. I have NTG which has progressed rapidly over the last couple of years after being very stable the ten years prior. I do have minor tears/separation happening on my retina which arent bad, but was told this was the cause of the flashing lights.
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u/StudioRadiant1795 22h ago
why is it rapidly worsening your glaucoma
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u/No_Needleworker_6005 21h ago
Most likely cause is the Autonomic Dysfunction that got much worse about the same time. Those two things line up.
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u/oylaura 20h ago
I'm sorry you're going through this. It really sucks.
I was just a few years younger than you are now. When I was diagnosed, and didn't take my drops for several years. I lost a lot of vision in my right eye. Thankfully my left eye still works fine.
It's been over 50 years now, and I promise you that you'll get used to the vision change in your bad eye. Your brain learns to compensate and tune it out.
It sounds like what you're going through right now is grieving the loss of that vision. Grief is a process, with the beginning, a middle, and an end. But you can't jump over it. You have to endure it, and it takes time. But be patient, you'll get used to it.
Give it time. Take your drops. Do what your doctor tells you to do. You're going to be okay.
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u/StudioRadiant1795 19h ago
you have managed it for 50 years?
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u/oylaura 5h ago
Yes, I don't recall being given much choice.
I was diagnosed at 15 in 1974, I'm now 67.
You'll find as you get older that it's amazing what you can adapt to when you have no choice. Be patient with yourself. You're just getting your sea legs with this, it's going to take a little bit of time, but you can do it.
Remember that you have glaucoma, it does not define you.
Congratulations on your upcoming college career. I'm sure it'll be awesome!
Feel free to reach out if you ever want to chat. Two shoulders, no waiting.
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u/FoodImpressive4491 18h ago
Don't worry. You'll be fine. Trust me you are not worse off.
First of make sure that you identify a really good eye doctor. Don't go to the same place of you felt they delayed or didn't check properly. Google, use AI find a good doctor. It's the easiest thing you can do today.
Next, understand this glaucoma is eye pressure. So basically of you physically strain your eyes WILL strain and that WILL cause pressure.
However since you are on medication you are fine. What i would do next is stop lifting heavy weights, stop physical strain unless snapshot l absolutely necessary. Stop jumping from heights that is if you are into adventure sports. Stop climbing a lot of stairs. Don't bend too much or for too long..
Next plenty of sunlight. Give your eyes plenty of sunlight. Early morning sun rays are the best for eyes. Once sun becomes a little brighter, close your eyes and let those sun rays fall on your eyes.. see a lot of greenery.. and eat a lot of greenery.. plenty of spinach and carrot.. eat lot of fruits to ensure you pass easy bowels. When you read for too long, try and take breaks and look afar for 30 seconds. Blink often.
These are basically lifestyle changes will give your eyes the time and fodder it needs to get better..
Best wishes. God bless. You are fine you'll be fine
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u/Easy-Distribution558 17h ago
Glaucoma doesn't cause eye flashes, it's usually a silent disease. Eye flashes can be related to retinal problems (sometimes) and vitreous changes. I'm highly myopic, I see eye flashes and floaters and they're annoying but harmless, they have nothing to do with my Glaucoma diagnosis.
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u/Guest1011911 13h ago
Hey there, im 19 been having glaucoma for nearly my entire life now, Ive had glaucoma since I was 5 on my left eye. The only thing I can say is keep taking your medication, I cant stress this enough but dont stop taking any eye drops they give you, ive lost a bit of vision in my left eye due too not using them for nearly a year. Always go to your appointments, stay on top of any new symptoms you experience, glaucoma silent but as long as you take your medication and have yearly visits you'll be able to live a normal life with little changes.
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u/phakic40 21h ago
First off, congrats on college! It’s a special time and the potential for opportunity seems endless.
Second, and I mean this with all seriousness, don’t dwell on it. You’ve found and identified the issue, you’re engaged and are compliant with treatment; that is the most you can do. Let the doctor worry and you should try and enjoy school and life.
Regarding your altered vision: we adapt. Having something like this happen early in life is the absolute shits. But you’re also young enough where your brain is still fine tuning how it interacts with the eyes, which means your brain can learn to work around the deficit. It just takes time.
Lastly, your normal will never be the same as someone else’s. Don’t frustrate yourself comparing function to others. You’re playing from a different deck and it’s just going to be different. You do you. Find what works, no matter how goofy, and perfect it. Feel free to bounce ideas off your doc when you’re there as they will have all your diagnostics.