I have had glasses since I was 8 years old. Glasses run in my family. My grandparents have them, my parents have them, and I am one of the two kids my Mom had that has had to wear glasses. I’m near sighted. In the last month I have done some research and considered LASIK surgery. Advanced techniques have enabled surgeons to successfully treat diabetics with LASIK without complications.
I hadn’t made any decisions. I just went in for the tests to see if I was a candidate. The worst that could happen is that they’d say no. Well, I qualified. At first, this seemed like great news, though a financial double-edged sword. I almost wanted to be rejected because then I wouldn’t want to (or really, couldn’t) spend that kind of money on something. Well, the LASIK clinic started calling yesterday. I have asymmetrical optic nerves. She did say that this can sometimes be a congenital condition, and told me not to worry about it. However, glaucoma runs in my family. My Dad was diagnosed in 2007 (though, he is more than twice my age). I knew without being told that this is a risk factor, and sometimes early indicator of first stage glaucoma. I knew, because of my diabetes and the family history, that I am high risk for glaucoma.
Now I’m being sent to a specialist by the LASIK clinic for more testing. I’m worried. I might be going blind. I just want to cry. I have had diabetes complications. I have been really sick before and I’ve had weird side-effects. But this is irreversible. I might have to have surgery. I’m scared.
Glaucoma definitely does not mean you will automatically lose vision. There are treatments that can be effective at controlling it. If you do have it, it’s better to be caught early (like yours) than to not catch it until vision loss has already occurred.
Also, as someone with a severe, uncorrectable visual impairment, I really don’t understand the whole laser eye surgery thing. I would love to have glasses that could correct my vision to anywhere near normal. I don’t understand why people get so annoyed with glasses.
Good luck with the specialist, and if it is glaucoma then I hope whatever treatment they give you is effective!
Thanks for the comment. I know that glaucoma is really slow-moving. It is a progressive thing and not just automatic. I am really sorry to hear that you have vision impairment problems that aren’t treatable. I do consider myself extremely fortunate in that way. I hadn’t really considered LASIK until recently. My glasses are very old, and I need a new pair. My Mom had LASIK about 13 years ago and has never regretted her decision to get the surgery. I haven’t had to replace my glasses as an adult and just wanted to explore my options. Now that I have astigmatism, I am looking at paying a lot more for glasses than I did before. Admittedly, aside from the long term financial savings from not having to replace glasses every two or three years (plus repairs and/or replacements if things get damaged or lost) I am a little bit vain. It isn’t that my glasses annoy me at all, it was mostly a consideration of convenience and longer-term finances. I am right in the prime age group for having the surgery, whereas the older I get the less viable a candidate I become.
Thanks for the assurance about the glaucoma. I panic. My Dad has had it now for four years and is doing just fine. I think it’s just that I seem to have developed it decades earlier than he did that scared me.
I know people who have had glaucoma for upwards of 10-15 years and not experienced any significant problems. Like diabetes, it’s a serious disease but is controllable as long as you take it seriously and go to appointments and take your medications. If you google “glaucoma” it’ll say that it’s “one of the leading causes of blindness,” but that’s just because we don’t tend to go blind from things like infectious diseases or infections these days.
As for me, my visual impairment was caused very shortly after I was born (weeks) due to life-saving intensive care treatment I received when I was born three months premature. So there is nothing I am missing or had to adjust to (and, heck, I’m just thankful to be alive, even if it cost most of my vision!). I work in the field of visual impairment and blindness with both children and adults, and the biggest message I try to convey is that, “You can do anything and everything, you just need to do it a little differently.” Like diabetes, blindness is scary at first, but definitely not the end of the world!
Again, best of luck with the specialist and with glaucoma treatment, if it turns out you have it.
Bad eye sight also runs in my family (father side). Ive had glasses since I was 12. Myopic with bad astigmatism. …thank God for contact lenses and ultra thin lenses…or my glasses will be half an inch thick! Im being checked for retinopathy every year…I am blessed that I have not developed any. Im also a candidate for LASIK…but my insurance will only cover 10 percent of the cost…how bad is that!
My doctor assured me that these procedures are safe, though she also says the surgery is not a guarantee of a 20/20 vision (duh)… I was advised to keep my bg level closest to normal before the surgery though… I am also hopeful it will help and make a bit of difference with my sight.
Wish you the best on the procedure!
If glaucoma runs in the family then it is definitely worth worrying about. What worries me is that you say that LASIK claims that it can treat diabetes! It cannot! Nothing can. It can deal with the bleeding behind the eyes - though this does not normally cause vision loss until it is really bad. I hope that things go well with you.
I am wearing glasses for over 66 years …been taking eye drops for glaucoma ( not diabetes related ) for 5 years. I asked the Ophthalmologist , if instead of twice daily drops once daily drops would be available . Doc gave me one laser treatment and the new drops …at the follow up treatment , my eye pressure was elevated , back to drops twice daily ; pressure in the normal range .
Are you taking drops presently and regularly ? …I think if drops don’t work , next step laser , next the surgical procedure …regular follow up is required .
What I know about LASIK is that you still may require reading glasses ( later in life ) …I had cataract surgery 3 years ago …I am not sure , if the LASIK treatment would avoid or postpone that from happening.
Don’t forget to claim your glasses( lenses ) on your yearly tax return
Wish you well .
I know how you feel. I have just been diagnosed with retinopathy in my left eye. I have had type 1 diabetes now for 25 years. I have lost some vision in my left eye and am so scared. Had laser treatment done on Monday and I have been praying non stop that my vision will come back (praying that miracles can happen). My job is to be on the road, and now I am so scared I won’t be able to drive, it might cost me my job. Sorry, I don’t have any advice just know that you are not alone.
Thank you, VikkToria. I will be praying for a miracle for you, too. Retinopathy is certainly worse than any concern I have about my sight, and I also am afraid of it. I hope that you retain/regain your sight, and that if in the less fortunate situation, you are able to find a happy path in life that allows you to live as comfortably. Please let me know how you’re feeling, and how things go.
