Anyone else have high ocular pressures?

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:22 am

Hi all,
About 5 years ago, I began getting high-normal readings when the doc tested for intra-ocular pressure. Sometimes its okay (less than 20), and other times its 22. Now yesterday it was 24. The doc has run alot of other fancy tests to check for peripheral vision, health of optic nerve, etc., and everything is perfect, so he hasn't rushed into my using eyedrops for glaucoma. He said that occasionally, he sees people with high pressures, but no symptoms of glaucoma.
I tried to think of anything that's been different (besides having a bad fibromyalgia flare-up), and all I could think of was that I have been consistently using my APAP since my last pressure was taken (it was 18-20). I asked him if CPAP machines could somehow cause it and he said "No.....but the condition that might be causing your apnea could also be contributing to this". I'm just curious if any of the rest of you have problems with higher intra-ocular pressures/glaucoma?
I wished I'd asked him further what he meant, but I know I always ask sooooo many questions there, that I decided to let it go. Maybe he wanted to say "Its because you're OLD!!!" lol.
I'm just always trying to explain things and make sense of things.
I'm curious if any of you have noticed an increase in eye pressure since starting with the PAP.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:27 am

Recently I was diagnosed with Glaucoma. Doctor said that he didn't hink it was connected with CPAP use. He zapped it a few times with the laser and the pressure is now back within normal limits. See him again in 3 months.

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:32 am

Hi Oceanpearl,
I've never heard of using a laser on glaucoma. What did he do with it?

ozij · Post by **ozij** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:53 am

Glaucoma is such an age related thing that I don't think anyone can give you a convincing answer.

It's almost like asking "has anyone noticed they have more white hair since they started cpap?"

It's like that classic example in statistics: Most kids in primary school get better at arithmetic when they start wearing bigger shoes....

O.

Slinky · Post by **Slinky** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:06 am

I had glaucoma in one eye that has been treated very nicely w/one Xalatan eye drop nightly for some 8-9 years now. And w/absolutely NO RISE in pressure the entire time. I've not had an eye exam since starting CPAP and will be due shortly. It will be interesting to see what transpires on this next exam. One thing I have noticed is that when I do encounter a mask leak around the eye area it is almost always on the left side which is the eye I have glaucoma in. I don't tolerate eye leaks and immediately correct them. But .... once I'm asleep .... ??

I am especially careful of that left eye since I also developed a cataract in it and the well-respected "idiot" that did my cataract surgery not only gave me the wrong size lens (a rare risk of cataract surgery) but the "jerk" gave me a "reading" lens when I had made it clear that I wanted and expected to get a "distance" lens. They offered to do refractory surgery - but like I would let anyone who worked with or trained under that "sheister" touch my eye again? Ha! Screw me once, shame on you. Screw me twice, shame on me! Yeah, I did file a complaint w/the state licensing board and, yeah, he did get his patties slapped. Big hairy ape deal! I'm the one who has to fart around w/a d*mn contact lens every time I need to drive after dark!

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:17 am

Country4ever wrote:Hi Oceanpearl,
I've never heard of using a laser on glaucoma. What did he do with it?

Basically made some drainage to ease the pressure. It was not a guaranteed cure (but it worked) but it was a better alternative than using eye drops for the rest of my life.

Treesap · Post by **Treesap** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 1:59 pm

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in 1996 at the age of 32. I had a family history of it. I used drops for 4 years. I moved after that time and got a different eye specialist. The second one suspected that I didn't have glaucoma, only high pressures. I've had so many different test for doctors to see my optical nerve, none of them have verified if they are able to see a change in it.

A test was done to test the thickness of my corneas, as some new research indicated that thicker corneas were able to handle higher pressures without damage. I do have very thick corneas.

I haven't used any eye drops in 6 o 7 years, and the pressures have not changes. Mine are always 22-24. Occasionally one will go up a little higher. Eye pressures change constantly, so there is no real proof of glaucoma. My peripheral visions is excellent.

My sister had increased pressures as well, and her corneas were determined to be very thick as well. She does not use eye drops.

If the doctor changed his mind about my using drops, I would.

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:17 pm

I have high eye pressure and no sign of glaucoma also. I've had all of the tests and examinations and there is no damage to the optic nerve or any loss of peripheral site either. The eye doctor put me on eye drops immediately (Levobunolol). My eye pressures have remained within normal range since I've been using the drops. I have thick corneas also. The doc always told me it was due to the fact that I had untreated high blood pressure for years. I've finally gotten my blood pressure under control but it hasn't changed my eye pressures so I don't know if high blood pressure had anything to do with it or not. I go to a teaching hospital so I never see the same doctor twice. Most doctors think I should continue to use the eye drops for the rest of my life. One or two don't believe I don't need them and will probably never develop glaucoma. The drops are relatively cheap and painless so I'll continue to use them until something better comes along.

oceanpearl · Post by **oceanpearl** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 2:24 pm

tater pie wrote:I have high eye pressure and no sign of glaucoma also. I've had all of the tests and examinations and there is no damage to the optic nerve or any loss of peripheral site either. The eye doctor put me on eye drops immediately (Levobunolol). My eye pressures have remained within normal range since I've been using the drops. I have thick corneas also. The doc always told me it was due to the fact that I had untreated high blood pressure for years. I've finally gotten my blood pressure under control but it hasn't changed my eye pressures so I don't know if high blood pressure had anything to do with it or not. I go to a teaching hospital so I never see the same doctor twice. Most doctors think I should continue to use the eye drops for the rest of my life. One or two don't believe I don't need them and will probably never develop glaucoma. The drops are relatively cheap and painless so I'll continue to use them until something better comes along.

The drops that I was prescribed were 90.00 for a bottle about the size of a ball point pen.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 3:08 pm

Count me in, Diabeta caused, Treated with TRAVOPROST 0.004% OPH SOLUTION. One drop each eye nightly. it's working. Jim

tater pie · Post by **tater pie** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:02 pm

The first doctor I went to was in a private practice and prescribed timolol maleate which cost $90 for a tiny bottle and it burned like crazy when I put the drops in. I then went to a teaching hospital and they switched me to levobunolol which doesn't hurt at all and cost about $25 a bottle at a regular pharmacy and works just as well.

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:44 pm

ozij wrote:It's almost like asking "has anyone noticed they have more white hair since they started cpap?"

Yep.... but at least I have blond hair so it doesn't show up so much.

Country4ever · Post by **Country4ever** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:45 pm

Thanks everyone,
Oz.....you're absolutely right about how easy it is to make incorrect assumptions.
I am very hesitant to take meds of any kind. With my fibromyalgia, I usually get many side-effects. Plus....I worry that doctors are too med-crazy, and there can be harm done in the long run.
I don't know if my corneas are thick. I'll have to ask my doc when I see him in March. At least he's on top of it. He did say that there are definitely people who have high pressures with no glaucoma. If all the tests remain normal, what would be the sense in using the drops? ........would it just be to make the doc feel better? I'll have to ask him if there's been any research done to see if people who have high pressures without glaucoma, ever do develop any eye problems from the high pressures.
I'm of the belief that we're not all the same and shouldn't be treated the same.........so I think I would rather not take the drops if he can't convince me of its usefulness.
I do tend to make an art out of thinking up useless theories.........so..........I wonder if there's a higher rate of higher ocular pressures in people who eventually need cpap?? Probably not. But the process of thinking this stuff keeps my mind busy and exercising!

wabmorgan · Post by **wabmorgan** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:49 pm

I'd say probably not.

I've had mine checked yearly with eye exam and presure was never high.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Nov 28, 2007 4:55 pm

My doc said that peripheral vision loss was the deciding factor in my case.

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