My brother (62 years old) just called to tell me he was diagnosed with glaucoma

[tularetom]

And he actually seemed to be fairly happy about it. It took me awhile to figure it out but he now thinks he will be able to legally grow his own weed.

I didn't have the heart to tell him. He has dreams of spending the rest of his life toking up. He's a Vietnam vet and things have not always been easy for him.

Other than gloating his reason for calling was to warn me to get tested because there is apparently a strong genetic component involved and our mom suffered from glaucoma for many years although it was controlled with medication.

Anyway it was funny to hear his reaction to being told he has a serious condition that could possibly threaten his vision.

[charlie]

1. I'm not sure I wouldn't feel the same way

It's been over 20 years since I've had a taste, because (1) I lived most of that time in Japan and (2) I've had to pee in cups to stay employed. I miss having a doob now and then. Reeeally miss it.

[Kind of Blue]

2. Hey, I've got glaucoma and there's nothing better for clearing

the eye than a nice toke for it but don't use because it makes me too drowsy. The onset of mine came quite suddenly (acute glaucoma, doctor said). I had laser surgery and it helped a lot but didn't cure it, of course. I looked up your profile and see you're in California, I'm in San Diego, so your brother could get a prescription if he lives here too. Although I know a lot of doctors will not write one, there are many who will. I use to know a card-carrying medical marijuana user who was allowed to pick up a specific amount of seeds from a dispensary to legally grow her own because of terrible chronic pain suffered in a car accident. This was about 7years ago and I don't know if the law has changed. So your brother could perhaps be correctly gleeful.

[tularetom]

3. Unfortunately he's in VA where I'm guessing the laws are a bit harsher

but who knows, maybe he's researched it and knows something I don't.

:shrug:

[Kind of Blue]

14. I hope he does too :)

[Zhade]

11. You need to switch to sativa. Indica is what's making you tired.

NT!

[Kind of Blue]

13. Oh, my goodness! I didn't know what your were talking about

until I looked it up. Wow, learn something new everyday. Thanks so much!

[davsand]

4. Annual eye exams usually screen for elevated eye pressure.

If you get your eyes examined annually you probably have been screened for high pressure in your eyes. If you are not being screened, then you really DO need to with it running in your family. They put a drop or two in your eye to numb the surface and they put a little pressure meter up to the surface of your eye. No big fuss, and not painful at all.

The biggest issue with treating Glaucoma with weed is the need for regular dosing (sounds like a delightful challenge, I'm sure...) but the thing to remember is that once your lose sight due to elevated inner eye pressure there IS no getting it back. Once your optic nerves are blown you are screwn. I am not willing to run a risk with my vision, thus I use drops.

I was diagnosed with Glaucoma at the age of 40, and have been on eye drops ever since. I hated it, still am not thrilled with the twice a year trips to the eye doc for testing, but I really can't say it has made much difference in my life other than using eye drops.

Please tell your brother that the more he learns about this disease the better his chances of protecting his sight.

I honestly with they would legalize MJ--at a minimum for med use--but they have not done that in Illinois and several other states. I wonder sometimes if I will ever live to see the day.



Laura

[tularetom]

6. I'm running on one cylinder so to speak so I'm very careful

I lost most of the vision in my right eye in 1996 at age 55 in an explosion of some black powder and had to give up flying so I'm quite religious about regular testing.

I've been tested annually for glaucoma and so far so good.

As far as my brother is concerned, if regular doses of wacky tobacky could immunize you against glaucoma he would never have to worry. I'll work on him and make sure he takes an active part in his own treatment.

Thanks so much for your concern.:hi:

[Zhade]

12. "if regular doses of wacky tobacky could immunize you" - it does for me.

My optometrist found that it actually IMPROVED my eyesight last year - they had to downgrade my prescription!

[lonestarnot]

8. High pressure does not necessarily mean glaucoma. The diagnosis comes from damage to the optic

nerve. The lesser is called ocular hypertention. Just say'n. :shrug:

[davsand]

17. That is very true.

Sometimes high inner eye pressures don't translate into damage to the optic nerve, and sometimes patients they usually view as having "normal" pressures will manifest damage to the optic nerve. It really IS a little bit of a crap shoot, I think.

My doc pretty much said that in his opinion, any patient that presented with multiple pressure readings that he considered suspect gets referred for a Visual Field Exam or a GDX (which is pretty much a look at the optic nerve, from what I can tell...) I respect that simply because unless they do take a pretty aggressive approach eyesight could be lost before anybody realizes it (including the patient--remember Glaucoma damage usually manifests with sight lost around the edges rather than out of the middle.)

It is not a fun subject and nobody WANTS to face it, however, it really is a lot more manageable than it was a few decades ago.




Laura

[liberalhistorian]

5. I also strongly concur with the suggestion

to get tested for it yourself. Hubby has glaucoma and so does his father and one of his two brothers, there is, indeed, a very strong genetic component. In all of their cases, it was found early enough to be controlled simply with daily eyedrops and yearly checkups. It's when it's found in the later stages that it can become a huge problem, so get tested very soon.

I myself have "pre-glaucoma", as discovered during my last annual eye exam last spring. The pressure level was just right below the "glaucoma territory" level and the optic nerve picture on one of my eyes was just beginning to show the "curve" that the pressure causes. I was told to have it checked in a year, which means this April. And I'm only 43. There's no history of it in my family that I'm aware of, so it's kind of a mystery to me. Pot never did anything to me except make me feel sick, so I really don't care about that particular aspect of it, lol.

I sure hope your brother is okay and that it can be controlled well enough to not cause any problems with his sight.

[tularetom]

7. Thank you for your concern

See my response to the post above.:hi:

[fishnfla]

9. Xalatan, Lumigan, or Travathan. pick one

simple-one drop at bedtime. Safe, very effective. He will have long lush eyelashes ( a beneficial side effect).

That or Alphagan one drop twice a day, really good for optic nerve perfusion.

people dont get too upset about glaucoma b/c there are usually no signs or symptoms. Well there is one symptom, blindness, but by then it is too late. It usually is a very slow growing process, so a lack of urgency is OK.

The diagnosis and especially the treatment of the disease these days prevents blindness. The drops are far safer, much more effective, and much fewer side effcts than in the past. Far fewer side effects& better effecicacy than with pot too.

family history is serious problem, especially in black population, especially in an aging black population. Some studies show that if a black person has glaucoma, there is a 50% chance that a child or sibling will have the disease, especially when the reach the age of 50.

[Zhade]

10. He can, depending on where he lives. I can.

My doctors (yes, plural) found conclusive evidence that my toking the beneficial herb actually prevented (and continues to prevent) my getting glaucoma.

[sufrommich]

15. My brother has it too. Get yourself tested for peace of mind.

He uses daily eye drops that seem to do the trick.

[Hubert Flottz]

16. My mom had glaucoma but so far my sisters and I are okay...

I have macular degeneration in both eyes. So far the vitamins are keeping my dry type ARMD from getting worse. Best to get regular eye exams once you reach 50.

I welded for about 30 years so I have had some work related eye problems too. I was getting some flash burns looking at Sarah Palin every day on my TV...I'm glad that's about over.