How fast can glaucoma cause damage?

[Spaceystac]

I got an eye exam on November 24, and was told I had to come back for extra glaucoma testing due to large looking nerves( cupping).  I went back in the following week and had the nerve analysis and field vision baseline test.
I called and got my test results the next day, really hoping it would be a simple yes you have glaucoma or no you do not have glaucoma, but that was not the case I soon found out.   My nerve fiber analysis showed thinning of the superior and inferior  rims and to monitor.  She asked I come back in 3 to 4 months to retest.   I have had bouts of blurry vision, headaches, eye pressure pain behind eyes. Left eye lid gets lazy when tired, light sensitivity, bad night vision, blurry peripheral vision, trouble adjusting vision and halo's around lights. Incandesant lights give a orangey halo, florescent give off blue halo, add glasses and then starry streaks come into the mix with a windshield on the top and I shouldn't be driving at night!  
   So my question is, can there be more damage in 3 to 4 months? And if the test comes back no changes, what would cause the thinning of my nerve fibers? Is there anything other then glaucoma that would cause this?    Are my eye symptoms even related to the changes seen?

[bkelley8765]

I have been watch for glaucoma.  I have open angled glaucoma.  I am putting a drop in both eyes every evening.  I was also told that I have the beginning of cataracts.  My question is can the glaucoma cause the cataracts to grow faster then someone that doesn't have glaucoma?

[Spaceystac]

Wow  that is very interesting! Glad we have eye protection these days.  The glasses were eventually made out of the same substance they use on the windshields of our nasa space shuttles.They block the bright sodium flairs when entering the earth's atmosphere.  Didymium glasses hold back the bright orange sodium flair, allowing us to see through it and work the glass.

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

No it would not cause your problem.  A long time ago when people did glass blowing 8 hours/day with no eye protection there was a "glassblower's cataract".

JCH MD

[Spaceystac]

I for got to add that I do lampworking (sometimes called glassblowing) as a hobby. I did it for occupation in the past, so I would be staring at a torch for hours at a time (with protective glasses made for this). Could this cause damage like this? or make these issues worse?  It is possible for my to have an auto immune disease, it seems to be in the family.

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

Glaucoma can damage eyes in a matter of hours (acute glaucoma) to slow damage over decades and everything in between.  The most common type of glaucoma open angle generally does not cause pain or blurred vision.

JCH MD