Glaucoma and LASIK - What are the consequences of having glaucoma at such a young age?

Question

Hi, I am an 18 year old asian female who has a grandmother with glaucoma. Just recently (April) I had a "Red eye infection", and went to the optometrist right away. They said that my intraocular pressure was way higher than normal and gave me some drops. When I looked up the side effects for red eye I found out that glaucoma can be the cause of it. Am I too young to have glaucoma? Plus, can I get LASIK done when Im older? I have really bad nearsightedness and have bad astigmatism to top it off, and possibly glaucoma (I will see a glaucoma specialist in september). Will I end up going blind?

Answer 1

there is no such thing as being "too young" to have glaucoma. some infants are BORN with glaucoma ("congenital" glaucoma).

any glaucoma attack that causes REDNESS sounds to me like an ANGLE CLOSURE attack or angle closure glaucoma. that is more common among Asians, as it is an anatomical (and therefore inheritable) condition. one of the common treatments for angle closure is a laser peripheral iridotomy or "LPI":

http://www.opt.pacificu.edu/ce/catalog/15166-GL/Figure%2024.jpg

http://www.eyemdlink.com/EyeProcedure.asp?EyeProcedureID=46

LASIK can probably be performed later, depending on the Rx and the condition of the cornea/retina/glaucoma. lasik can complicate the diagnosis and management of glaucoma b/c the way we measure intraocular pressure is by pressing on the cornea with a prism or with a puff of air. after lasik your cornea will be :"thinner" which will artificially lower your intraocular pressure reading...

Answer 2

Uncontrolled glaucoma is a contraindictation to LASIK surgery. (from the LASIK booklet my PRK surgeon provided to me). Would also depend on your corneal thickness and amount of ablation needed to improve your vision.

You're catching a possible glaucoma early...which is a good thing. Keeping up with your eyedrops, and in close contact with your glaucoma specialist, will help to keep your eyes healthy from glaucomatous damage to your optic nerves.

There are infants who are born with glaucoma, some children are diagnosed with it...many people of differing ages. Glaucoma is found more commonly in older people, but does occur in all ages.

As for your question of going blind...if you keep up with your glaucoma medications, keep close follow up with your glaucoma specialist, you have a little less chance of losing any visual field than someone who didn't take their drops like they should or follow with their ophthalmologist.

Bottom line...at your glaucoma consultation, ask the specialist about possible LASIK in the future, or if there are any other refractive procedures they can recommend.

I know that my ophthalmologists in the office won't even perform a cataract surgery on a glaucoma patient unless the intraocular pressures are under control and have been for a period of 3-6 months with no signs of progression.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

get the laser iridotomy and follow up with the specialist for a couple of years then start asking about lasik .