vinny's blog

I have not yet been diagnosed with glaucoma and am not on medications but have recently experienced a significant elevation of IOP from my normal range of 13-18 to about 20 in one eye after having my eyes dilated and 22 in the same eye on another occasion. I was told that so far I do not require any medication or surgical interventions for this fluctuation but need to be monitored prior to exercising and afterwards.

Hi folks,

FYI, I have recently found an outstanding Glaucoma Specialist in NYC, Dr. Scott Smith, affiliated with the Harkness Institute of Columbia-Presybterian Medical Center,NYC. This physician has outstanding credentials, including fellowships at the Wilmer Institute at John Hopkins Medical Center and Massachusets General Hospital. In fact he was recommended to me by Dr. Harry Quigley, Director of Glaucoma at John Hopkins Medical Center.

According to new research, the early stages of glaucoma are not centralized in the eye or retina BUT the brain. Therefore the current emphasis on IOP tonometry may not be as relevant in the management of this disease as was presumed because the focus of intervention is on the brain itself which will lead to new treatments aimed towards specific parts of the brain rather than the eye!

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301151919.htm

I notice that after my workouts my blood pressure declines precipitiously to approximately 90/50. My heart rate is approximately 38-45 beats per minute. Due to the association of low blood pressure with potential damage to the optic nerve should we be decreasing the intensity of our exercise regimens to prevent too low blood pressure changes?

As I mentioned in a previous thread, I was diagnosed as being suspect for exfoliation syndrome (my primary diagnosis is Pigment Dispersia disorder). However, I obtained a second opinion from an Opthamologist who was trained at bascom and after a comprehensive exam he found no indication of this syndrome. He did note that this did not guarantee hat I would not develop this syndrome in ten years or so.

I have been experiencing a tugging/pulling sensation in one eye for the past six weeks that makes it feel as if this eye is not accomodating/adjusting appropriately. My visual acuity is excellent. I was examined by two opthamologists and they found blepharitis and redundant conjnctiva but no other pathology was found that could cause this problem. I did experience an injury to my TMJ last year which may be playing a role in these symptoms. I also have not been sleeping for more than five hours a night for the past six weeks which I suspect may be adding to this problem.

Although tumeric is considered a viable neuroprotectant the only research study I was able to find regarding its bioavailability after ingestion of this supplement seems to show that it has low oral bioavailability in humans. This is because it may undergo intestinal metatbolism. This raises the question as to whether the active constitutents of this herb can cross the blood/brain barrier and perform its antioxidant activity as a neuroprotectant.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11448902?dopt=Abstract

I was recently informed that I was suspect for exfoliation syndrome.and was extremely disturbed by this news. The fact that this disease is often accompanied by systemic cerebral and cardiovascular disease with high morbidity and mortality resulted in a storm of anxiety regarding the potential future course of my life.  Although my IOP is within the normal range I do not know when and if this syndrome will progress as well as its speed of progression.

I would appreciate hearing from others with this syndrome.

Thanks.