The fear of blindness, and the fear of the glaucoma laser treatment

I always had a great eyesight.

My first visit to an optometrist was two years ago when I wanted to know which reading glasses would fit me right. It was 1.25.

I went back again this summer. Then I was told that I have a narrow angle and should receive preventative laser treatment for glaucoma. 

Apparently, it’s caused by a genetic deformity, or it’s common in asian women over 50, especially those who have had particularly good vision. I had absolutely no idea. 

If you have good eyes, you don’t need glasses, so you don’t go for check-ups, right?

I was so worried that I immediately told my sister, who is six years older. She said she’d never had a proper eye exam either 😅. We’re a family with good eyesight. 

I was told that if I have an acute glaucoma attack, I need to go to the emergency room immediately. Emergency for an eye problem? It sounds so dramatic! 

But the doctor said it’s a terrifying disease that can cause blindness in just a few days if left untreated! 

With the chronic form, there are almost no symptoms, but by the time symptoms appear, it’s supposedly already too late. I feel incredibly ignorant about this…

On October 27, I got the laser treatment. It was extremely scary.

Here’s my report on this.

I have the eye drops three times a day for two weeks. My follow-up appointment is in four months.