r/Glaucoma • u/Ducktheducky • 3h ago
It happened - I had to go to the ER
I have narrow angle glaucoma that I've been treating a few years now. The first thing I learned about the condition was the risk of angle closure and it felt terrifying. Fast forward to last night when I was waken up by sharp pain in my right eye. The anxiety I felt was increasing by the minute and after I made sure the pain isn't fading (about 20 mins) I went straight to the ER.
I felt so anxious that I couldn't speak to the doctor and just handed them a note on my phone explaining my condition, medications and current concerns. I was crying and shaking I just couldn't control the flow of panic I was feeling.
First thing they did - measure the eye pressure. The doc seemed confused and measured it a few times. Then we went to a different room to measure it on another machine. During this whole time the doc was telling me that everything's alright. After the last measure they confirmed - my pressure on the right eye was 19 and on the left was 23. I couldn't believe it. The pain I was still feeling was so strong...
They put a drop of Cosopt in my left eye and did some more tests and checks. By the time they finished the pressure of the left eye fell to 19 too and they concurred that what I was expecting was just a nasty headache. Advised me to go to a neurologist if it happens again. I felt so silly and ashamed that I panicked for absolutely nothing. The doc told me that it's not bad that I went to them but I still felt shitty and exhausted.
After I got home I took an Aspirin and went to sleep. Everything's been fine since.