Gloucoma 😥 so worried

[Rainbowcat1122]

Just been diagnosed..any help will be much appreciated. Had to go to see the ophthalmologist as my field test wasn't right at my optician appointment and I am so worried. One of the main worrys is I have had to inform the DVLA and I am so worried that they say I can no longer drive

I don’t have glaucoma myself, but one of my parents does and they’re still allowed to drive.

Their glaucoma was picked up relatively early, and they’ve been prescribed eye drops that should stop their vision getting worse.

I was diagnosed about a year ago - I just use drops every day and it's fully under control. I don't have any problems with driving. Don't worry - if it has just been picked up on a field test you've got it very early.

Thank you so much for taking time to reply xxxx I have to put latanoprost drops in once a day.. the type of glucoma is 'primary open angle glucoma ' my eyesight is 6/6 with my glasses..I have had a disc heamorrhage in one of my eyes..apart for my eyes being a bit watery for the last year I have not noticed any difference, my eyes have stopped being watery since using the drops..I feel a little bit better now

@starrynight21....what happens and how long does it take to hear back after you notify DVLA please?

Could I please post this on chat for more traffic please? x

My BIL got an injection into the back of his eye which sounds horrendous but means he gets to keep his vision.

Hello OP, we're going to move this one over to chat for you now

That sounds awful ☹

Thank you xx

He was completely unbothered about it Rainbow but it did the trick anyway.

I was the same, referred by the optometrist, same diagnosis, put on latanoprost drops. The drops work for me, my pressure is within the normal range. My vision with glasses is very good, has not deteriorated at all. Yes, it's a bit boring to have to put in the drops every night.

I suggest having a look at the Glaucoma UK website. Lot's of useful resources there.

@JaneJeffer..is he still able to drive?

Yes he is Rainbow

Also, I still drive. Nobody ever mentioned anything to me about the DVLA.

My dad has glaucoma, he’s had it for years, and my gran and great grandfather had it too, v much in the family. My dad still drives and so did my gran and great grandad. My dad is 73 and just had to renew his license. No problems at all in renewing it. He uses drops every day, says its just like brushing your teeth, just another chore to do.

You’ll be fine

@MrsSquirrel...Its not legal to drive and not tell the DVLA if you have gloucoma.. you have to report it and also to insurance company as not doing so will invalidate your car insurance.

You can get fined up to £1000 pounds also if you dont tell them.

I have pasted below from the gloucoma site👇
Driving with glaucoma

When they’re diagnosed with glaucoma, many people worry about losing their driving licence. In fact, only 12% of people with glaucoma lose their licence. If you’re diagnosed early and follow the advice of your doctor, particularly about using eye drops, the chances are that you’ll never lose your licence due to glaucoma. But there are a few Dos and Don’ts:

You must tell the DVLA about your glaucoma if you have glaucoma in both eyes, or if you’re a commercial driver and you have glaucoma in one eye

OK thanks @Rainbowcat1122 I obviously didn't know that. As I said, nobody ever mentioned it to me.

Looking at the Glaucoma UK website, it says only 12% of people with glaucoma lose their license because of it. glaucoma.uk/care-support/driving-with-glaucoma/ Maybe that's reassuring for you.

Ah OK cross posts.

I understand that it's a big shock when you first get diagnosed. You go to the optometrist thinking it's a routine appointment and come out thinking about a chronic lifelong condition. It does take some mental adjustment.

My Dad got diagnosed in his 40s, never lost his licence. He had to start wearing glasses and put drops in daily. He's now well in to his 70s and his eyes have deteriorated but then he is late 70s and has just had cataracts, not sure if it's related at all.

I've had to notify the DVLA recently about my eye conditions.

I've been diagnosed with Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma, which was sudden onset. I had to have a Peripheral Laser Iridotomy on both eyes.

I've also been dx with a macular hole in one eye and have recently had vitrectomy surgery to try and repair that.

My eyesight is now very poor in one eye and the other is struggling to compensate for that vision loss. I'm probably never going to be able to see well enough to drive again, or if I can, whether I'll have the confidence to do so. It has been devastating news. I struggle to see print, can't read books, the tv is hard to focus on. And there was no family history of any of this, to my knowledge

I was diagnosed with open angle glaucoma a year ago, after a visual field defect was spotted. I'm 56 and also have early cataracts
I'm on latanoprost drops too, and 6 months later my eye pressures were within normal range. Glaucoma Uk is a good source of information

@TheWindOnTheMoon...so sorry for your situation its so worrying isn't it.

@Rainbowcat1122. Thank you. It's been a very hard year, all of this coming so suddenly just a few months ago. I'm only in my mid 50s with teenage children still. I was the youngest in the eye clinic waiting room at my appointments by at least 20 years. I never imagined I'd have these sort of eye problems so early on. That's what has really hurt - I can't take my DC to any of their activities, or just spontaneously go out shopping. Our village's bus service is poor and I have to rely on DH to drive me anywhere now. Trying hard not to feel sad 😥 but it's really hard.

and ❤to everyone else also struggling with sight problems and any ensuing MH problems.