Laser Trabeculoplasty for Glaucoma - Jane Moore's Patient Experience
Thursday, 10 November 2011
A wedding planner who was virtually blind because of glaucoma travelled thousands of miles from her home in Italy for treatment that saved her sight.
A routine eye test for 63-year-old Jane Moore in her home town of Sorrento, Italy, gave her the news she had been dreading — she was close to becoming blind because of the disease that had badly affected her mother and is the second most common cause of blindness in the UK.
Jane takes up the story: "I knew I was susceptible to glaucoma as my mother suffered from it, and as it is hereditary there was a high chance I would develop it too.
"Glaucoma doesn't have any symptoms so I didn't know anything was wrong but a sight test five years ago identified that I had increased pressure in my eyes and was diagnosed with the disease. "
Jane, who is originally from Northwich, Cheshire, managed the condition with eye drops. She said: "Over the five years since my diagnosis, I administered eye drops daily and attended an annual field test."
However, a routine visit to the doctors in October 2010 left Jane, who has a passion for travel and reading, feeling extremely concerned about her eyesight. "Last October I went to see my doctor in Italy. He was very negative about my condition and I went in to panic mode. He told me to return in January 2011. I was really very concerned and wasn't willing to wait until January."
So Jane followed in her mother's footsteps and travelled thousands of miles from her home to receive treatment from Brendan Moriarty, a consultant ophthalmologist at The Prospect Eye Clinic, in Altrincham, Cheshire.
Jane explains: "My mother had been successfully treated for glaucoma by Brendan at The Prospect Eye Clinic, so I immediately contacted the clinic and made an appointment."
Jane travelled back to the UK to attend her appointment with Brendan, who is one of the UK's top eye surgeons. Brendan explained: "In a healthy eye, the aqueous fluid is constantly produced and drained at a balanced rate to maintain the health of the lens and cornea. When this drainage becomes blocked, intraocular pressure increases and glaucoma starts to develop, very slowly. As the condition progresses, sight is gradually damaged.
"When I assessed Jane, her glaucoma was so advanced that it had damaged the optic nerves in her eyes so severely that I wasn't sure I would be able to save her sight."
Brendan treated Jane with Laser trabeculoplasty (LTP) treatment. LTP is a simple, yet highly effective laser procedure that reduces the intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma.
Jane recalls what it was like to hear she could possible lose her vision"When Brendan gentle explained that he may not be able to save my sight it was an unbelievable shock. I had no idea that glaucoma could lead to sight loss.
"The treatment was excellent. Brendan informed me of all the risks, he made me feel so assured that I knew that I could completely trust him and that I was in the best pair of hands."
The great news was that the treatment was so successful that Brendan saved Jane's sight: "It was the greatest moment when Brendan told me that he had saved my sight. I just don't know what I would have done if I'd lost my sight; it just doesn't bear thinking about. I can't thank Brendan enough.
"I would say to anyone who has a history of glaucoma in their family to make an appointment immediately with their optician and if you're already suffering from this terrible sight loss disease to go and see Brendan, if anyone can help you he can. I can't thank him enough for what he has done for me."
Brendan added: "I was delighted to be able to save Jane's sight. Glaucoma becomes more common as we get older. As glaucoma displays no symptoms I would strongly advise that those over 40 visit their optician for regular eye tests as this can pick up early signs of the disease, as sight that is already lost to glaucoma can never be recovered."
About the ophthalmologist
Brendan Moriarty has over 30 years' experience in eye care. He has particular expertise in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and floaters, as well as the pioneering 'No Specs' surgery, which corrects long and short sight, age-related glasses dependency and astigmatism.
His reputation as a highly skilled surgeon has made Brendan Moriarty a world leader in the treatment of macular degeneration and intraocular telescopes.
For further information on glaucoma surgery, or to book a consultation with Brendan Moriarty, please call the clinic on 0161 927 3177, or visit the Appointments page.