Hi

[Maria1952]

I recently had my eye exam for new glasses.  I Had one last year.  I am 57 years old.  This time the new Dr said I have narrow angles and am a glaucoma suspect.  Also he noticed that the that area where fluid leaves your eyes is somewhat narrower than average and to watch out for angle closure. He also mentioned my narrow angles were inherited.  I have never been told I had narrow angles.  I was wondering why other Optometrists over the many years never mentioned this, especially with risks from certain medicines that dilate the eye.  Who doesn't take cold medicine from time to time!

Also, is the laser  safe, seems like what I may be getting.  I hear bad stories.  Additional tests will be done March 29 to determine the best treatment.  I am just surprised and a little scared.  

I use tramadol for fibromyalgia.  Do you think it is safe and not an anticholnerngic?  I always read online that the mechanism is similar to Effexor, which is very contradicted for narrow angles.  Believe it or not this medicine has been prescribed to me for my condition, but I only took it for a few days because it gave me a headache, nothing big, but I just felt unwell.  So not knowing about the narrow angles at that time just last year could of been dangerous.  Geez!  I would appreciate any information you can give.  

[Mirgg]

Hi Maria,
Mi mama esta ciega debido al glaucoma que padece. Ella uso gotas y tambien fue operada de angulo estrecho pero fue tarde para ella. Cuando supe que era hereditario fue enseguida a un especialista de glaucoma (no cualquier oftalmologo). Tengo 71 anos y no fui diagnostica con glaucoma, mi nervio optico esta saludable, no obstante me operaron con laser de angulo estrecho (narrow angle). Antes de hacermelo busque una segunda opinion en el Bascom Palmer (Miami) y me confirmaron la necesidad de hacerme el procedimiento. El mismo consiste en abrir un huequito en una de las camaras del ojo para que el liquido al acumularse no suba la presion del ojo, asi, las camaras del ojo se comunican por el principio de vasos comunicantes. No el doloroso ni tuve complicaciones. Siempre que voy revisan para ver si los huequitos no estan tupidos. La presion del ojo la puede medir cualquier tecnico en oftalmolofia y tambien en optometria, pero el especialista siempre confirma la medida con un equipo mas sofisticado.
Como padezco de dolores en la spina dorsal y la rodilla estuve tomando muchos anti-inflamatorios durante una de las crisis y me subio la presion del ojo mas de lo normal, por supuesto que deje de tomarlos. Ahora me prescribieron Tramadol 50 mg y estoy chequeando para ver si tiene algun efecto en el glaucoma aunque no encontrado nada hasta el momento..

[JohnHaganMD]

Ese texto tiene 7 años, así que no esperes una respuesta. Gracias por tratar de ser útil. John Hagan MD

[JohnHaganMD]

Tramadol should not create problems for narrow angles. JCH MD

[Maria1952]

Thanks!  I'm repeated my post, but thats okay.  I was new to this and couldn't find it.

What about the Tramadol.  Can you answer for me.

[MountainBluebird]

Maria1952, did you ever find out about narrow angles and Tramadol use? Thank you.

[Ray T Oyakawa, MD]

The level of education between an optometrist and ophthalmologist is many many many years.  Also, narrowing increases with age as the lens increases in size.

LASER is safe and effective.  Complications are very rare.

Dr. O.