United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Because of Kath's recent experience with narrow angle glaucoma and the surgery she had to have on both eyes, when I visited my opthamalogist this week for my checkup, I asked him about it.

He told me that the normal angle in my Horner's eye has a narrower angle and that the reason he does not dilate my eyes during the exam is that the dilation could cause that angle to close. I don't really understand how all this works but I heard the warning!

so it is something else for those of us with Horner's Syndrome to watch out for. Do not allow them to dilate your eyes.

It amazes me that we all just keep learning about this injury!

Nancy Birk
UBPN President

Nancy
I am glad you posted this information.

I have always had glaucoma testing.
Everyone knows it is painless and the little puff of air.
I was shocked when I changed doctors and he told me I had acute narrow angle glaucoma in both eyes.
He felt the pressure was high but we would wait for surgery.
He had me come back in 6/8 weeks.
He checked my eyes was very calm and said he had time to do it now!
I was shocked and the next thing I know I was having that tiny hole drilled into my Iris.
He said I would have to have the other eye but would wait until this eye was better.
Two weeks later I was in to check my eye and he had to do the Horner's Eye.
He thought he was finished but the Iris of my Horner's eye was thick and he had to do the procedure a second time.

I never heard of Narrow Angle Glaucoma until I was diagnosed.
It is serious and can lead to blindness.
Due to my high pain threshold I did not realize all the headaches I was having was a sign of this type of glaucoma.
I am not sure if it's just me but my Horner's eye required more doses of Steroid to reduce the swelling.
I seem to have healed beautifully because the doctor was so pleased.
They had to check my vision and I can read and extra line on the charts with both eyes now!
I read this is a rare type of glaucoma
My swelling in my eyes afterwards was rare!
My vision gain is rare!
So I guess all in all I am a rare bird... LOL..

I had my eyes dilated about two years ago by a different doctor and he knew I had Horner's.
When we spoke about the Horner's, he said it was no big deal because it resolved long ago... DUH and a bigger DUH...
No one in my family has ever had glaucoma no matter how long they lived...
No one has had cataracts.
I have both, the cataracts are very small but they are there...
Here is some information sites - My pressure was 25 in both eyes by the time I had my symptoms checked.
I had all the symptoms but never connected it to anything really serious.
Please ask your doctor to check for Narrow Angle Glaucoma.

http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/La-P ... otomy.html

http://www.webmd.com/hw/health_guide_at ... r=hw155031

Kath (adult/robpi)

This is very important info. Thanks for posting about it.We learn something new every day!