HIgh IOP and galucoma

I have had high/normal eye pressure for 8 yrs now- I have also had at least 4 acute attacks of glaucoma .  When I do go to the doctor for this -they tell me that since I do not have damage to my eye that they will not put me on any prevenative medicine like timolol, and to "wait and see".  Well- I don't want to have damage to my eye before I get diagnosed- I have had all the signs and symptoms- yet  no one will treat me with preventative drops.  My mother had glaucoma and my father went blind because of it- (and because his docs blew him off like they are doing with me)  now he's blind and I don't want to suffer the saem fate .  What do I need to tel these docs in order to get them to listen to me and help.  My normal IOP is 26 and it shoots up to 65 when i have acute attacks-these attacks also co-incide with sinus infections.   I know you cannot diagnose over the internet but maybe you could suggest a good glaucoma specialist in the Hudson, Ohio area.

Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

If you have had 4 episodes of acute angle closure glaucoma you need laser iridotomies in both eyes. There are other causes of acute glaucoma including inflammation.

You can use the American Academy of Ophthalmology website www.aao.org  and use the Find and Eye MD feature to find a glaucoma specialist in your area.

I would urge you to make the effort to seek out a glaucoma specialist to review your case in detail. Your family history is ominous.

Try and assemble your old records, visual fields to take to see the glaucoma specialist (ophthalmologist Eye MD).

JCH III MD Eye Physician & Surgeon