My daughter is 12. They think she has Glaucoma and they say it is hereidtary, but I can not find anyone in our families who has it. The pressure in one of her eyes is 23 and the other is 24. They want to do a Visual Field Test - I was told by the Dr. this was test to be sure that she has it. Someone else told me that this is a test to see how much the disease has progressed and how much damage was done. Does anyone know if this is true? I may be jumping the gun here but should I get a second opinion now or should I wait until the test done?
Any info is appericated...
Thanks in advance....

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sprat

Hello,

I can not answer your question, but I to am going through test with my 17 month old for Glaucoma. I did find a good sight that there are Doctors that answer your questions. Here is their link.
http://www.childrensglaucoma.com/wwwboard/wwwboard.html

You can ask them there also, getting a few people to answer your questions is good. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Hope this helps, Bye Chele'

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Good Bless our Troops

Thanks Chele....just didnt know really where to start.

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sprat

Ok....here's the visual field test *If they didn't discribe it to you*....Your daughter will basically sit in a chair her chin on a rest one eye will be covered...she'll be given a buzzer a bunch of dots of light will begin to flash (Not super fast)....she clicks the button when ever she sees a dot of light.....it's all hooked up to a computer so they do an analysis and send it to your doctor..they go over it blah blah blah...You recieve a picture of an eye with darkened areas where you have no periferable vision....Me for example only have about 25 degrees of perception in my left eye...(Due to retina problems and the glaucoma)...

I've been diagnosed with glaucoma for about 8 years now....(Developed it when I was 12) And all I have to do is have daily eye drops and go in for pressure checks every three months...

oh and also normally they won't test right away for it...if the pressure is up normally they retest the pressure after say a months time.....if it's up then meds are perscribed then the test....

But that may just be how they do it out here as well http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

k thanks for the info. I am very worried about this. I would like to get it over with. You said you also have been having since you were 12. While using the meds (drops) has your vision detoriated any? Iam trying to understand if the drops maintain vision and you continue to have small loss or do they prevent it from getting any worse when you start using them? hope you can understand what i am trying to ask.

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sprat

I haven't noticed any loss of vision at all.....though I haven't been tested a second time either....which is odd...I was told I'd test once a year or something....But I guess since my pressure has been controlled....(Normally around 15 per eye) they haven't felt the need for another test...*Shrugs*