glaucoma & sinus congestion
I have extensive glaucomatous sight loss in one eye only, which is the
one on the same side of my face as is the nasal passage of mine where
the membrane is highly atrophied. I don't believe there is much wrong
with my paranasal sinuses per se, but in two operations to my nose
there were quite wrong, extreme things done to it, and also, it wasn't
just right developmentally and allergies have aggravated problems with
it.
Quote:
>I was diagnosed with glaucoma about 18 months ago. I have been
>through all of the normal {*filter*} and have undergone both laser and
>scalpel surgeries on the eye.
I assume you refer to actual optic-nerve glaucomatous damage,
resulting in areas of loss of sight.
Quote:
>I attempting to find more out about the condition, I have seen some
>discussion of a tie-in between glaucoma and sinus trouble. I have had
>severe sinus trouble for most of my life. The glaucoma has largely
>been unaided by any of the treatments. Although my pressure is down
>currently, even after all of the drug treatments and laser, the
>presssure continued to climb (although not constantly).
I certainly believe there is a common {*filter*}-supply problem in the case
of my nose and eyes, but I haven't found any clinical articles that
discuss a nose-to-*head*=of=optic=nerve tissue-degeneration mechanism.
I have, however, run across a number of clinical references to various
sorts of paranasal-sinuses-(mainly ethmoid and
sphenoid)-to-*anterior*=optic=nerve=trunk damage. The arcuate-shaped
visual scotomas which appeared in my case definitely correlated to
loss of nerve fibers directly attaching to the retina, not any further
down the optic nerve. Damage to the anterior part of the nerve trunk
itself (AION), from any cause--such as sinus problems--results in
vision-loss areas with less-defined, less-{*filter*}ally shaped scotomas
Quote:
>I do wonder if there is anything to this tie-in between the two
>conditions.
Eye doctors and nose doctors have an extreme reluctance to see any
cross-correlation of problems existing in their two different
jurisdictions and are highly reluctant to coordinate in tracing such a
transfer of problem.
Dr. Robert Ritch, a NY glaucoma specialist, at:
www.web-xpress.com/iaoo/glaucoma/glaufaq.html
has told me recently that he has accumulated a number of glaucoma
patients with sinus problems--but he can't figure out any interaction
of these two organs which is in common among these patients.
A press release from one of his annual clinical-and-research meetings,
which is supposed to flag a shift in the glaucoma paradigm, is at:
www.aegix.com:80/info/optic.htm
Along with other stuff, my experiences with treatment of my eyes and
nose are described and discussed at:
www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/1284/glaucoma.html
Ray
