Sunday, June 22, 2014

Narrow Angle Glaucoma

Who knew that there were different types of Glaucoma??   For some reason, unknown to me, I have been blessed with this disease.  I had to have a tiny hole, laser-cut into each of my eyes, to prevent sudden blindness!

I put it off for more than a year, just because of the sound of the procedure.  A laser cutting my eye, while I'm awake?  That sounded like something out of a Frankenstein Movie to me!

Finally, my family Dr. urged that I have it taken care of, so I went to the eye specialist to be checked.  Oh my!  You have a VERY narrow angle!  I was told..  What does that mean?  It means that I have a small eyeball.  There isn't a lot of room for excess fluid to go, so if the fluid increases suddenly, I could go blind within hours if not caught in time...  

I don't want to lose my vision!  So I decide to have the laser surgery done.

On the day of the procedure, I could have driven myself home, but just in case, I had someone take me to and from the appointment.    I was told to take some Tylenol before I leave home, as some of the drops they use, cause you to get a headache.  

I was taken back, and several different eye drops were put into my eyes, then I was shown to the waiting room, to wait my turn for the surgery.   After a short while, my eye was numb.  It's an unusual feeling, but nothing bad..  

When it was my turn, I was so nervous.  I walked into the room, and was told to sit in front of the laser.  I placed my chin on the resting spot of the laser, and was told to hold on to the two handles on the front of the laser.   I was told that it would make a clicking sound, but not to move.  They kept telling me not to move, and don't blink.    I was told to look down, and to the right.  The Dr placed a glass magnifier onto my eyeball, and then clicking started.   The laser zapped, and it just felt like a small tap on my eyeball.  No pain, no shock..  Immediately, the nurse placed more drops in my eye, and I was sent home with a prescription for antibiotic drops to use 3-4 times a day for a week.  Two weeks later, I went back and had the other eye done.  No problems following either procedure.

I hope if this is something you need to have done, that my words will give you comfort, and ease any anxiety you may have about it...   Thanks for reading!