An interview with patients and their experience with SLT
- What was it like for you when you were diagnosed with glaucoma?
- What was the first thought that came to your mind?
- What were some of the symptoms that you had that led you to your initial diagnosis?
- Now that you've had the SLT Therapy, what is it like for you now that you have it under control?
- So take me through what the steps are to get the laser treatment itself?
- Knowing what you do now, and the resultf from the therapy, do you wish you had done it sooner? Do you wish you knew it was available sooner?
- So, in general when someone talks about laser therapy, what would you say?
- What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to others?
Q: What was it like for you when you were diagnosed with glaucoma?
Mike: Well, I was frightened of course cause I knew it could lead to blindness. The doctor told me he could fix it, that he could take care of it, he could stop the glaucoma from getting worse. I felt assured at this point, but yes, at first I was frightened.
Thomas: I wasn't so surprised because all my life I've had slightly high ocular pressure. Obviously when he said, it was just over the point where he started to get worried, I was concerned and very happy to start any kind of treatment whether it was drops or the laser procedure.
Q: What was the first thought that came to your mind?
Thomas: My first thought was blindness, with my job as a pilot that's the last thing I want. In fact, I'd probably have to stop flying long before I lost any vision, but it's just a matter of living life to its fullest.
Carol: I had never thought of getting it myself, but the laser therapy worked very well for me. I haven't had to take any drops and its been terrific.
Larry: All of a sudden it was a disease associated with old people, so all of a sudden here I am as one of these old people who had been diagnosed with glaucoma. I had no idea what it was about, I didn't realize you could lose you eye sight and things like that. So, it was a surprise to hear that I had it and that I needed treatment for it.
Q: What were some of the symptoms that you had that led you to your initial diagnosis?
Larry: There were no physical symptoms. Every year I go for an eye check up and at this latest visit we discovered that I had pressure in the eye, it was the first I'd known about it.
Thomas: For me it was hearing from the doctor that my pressure had reached a point where we should do something about it. Physically I don't think anyone can tell if they have high ocular pressure without having it measured.
Q: Now that you've had the SLT therapy, what is it like for you knowing that you have it under control?
Carol: Great relief, not having the inconvenience of using drops everyday
Mike: It's nice to know you've put a stop to the glaucoma spreading to where you could eventually lose your eyesight. It was a good move for me to have the procedure.
Thomas: It's sort of a hidden benefit, you don't really see it, you just know in your heart that you've done your best to take care of yourself
Q: So take me through what the steps are for having the laser treatment itself.
Thomas: When I saw the machine I think I made some sort of comment like "that's it, that's all it is", it was a very small machine, very unobtrusive, nothing threatening at all about it. You put your chin in the little holder and open your eyes as far as you can. They put in some sort of drops that numb your eye so you can't feel anything, an eye piece goes in and the laser treatment starts. At first it's just a series of clicks.
Larry: The procedure itself did not inconvenience me at all. I felt good during the whole process because I finally knew it was going to produce something good at the very end.
Q: Knowing what you do now, and the results from the therapy, do you wish you had done it sooner, do you wish you knew it was available sooner?
Mike: I would have done it a lot sooner. I probably would have stopped it before it got this bad, so yes.
Thomas: My story is a little different it wasn't a tragic event for me, it was just a slow building, but I would do it again tomorrow in a heartbeat.
Larry: I know eventually I'll have to have a repeat of the surgery and I won't hesitate for a second to do it again.
Carol: I feel the same way, I wouldn't hesitate to have it again.
Q: So in general when someone talks about the therapy, what would you say?
Mike: It is amazing what they can do, you can actually have it done and then drive home afterwards. It's amazing because, I envisioned having patches over my eyes for a couple days. It's amazing what modern medicine has done.
Q: What is the single most important piece of advice you would give to others about the treatment?
Thomas: Don't hesitate to have the treatment, because its almost like a hidden disease that you can't see.
Carol: Yes, I feel the same way, I'd say the same thing, don't be afraid of it.
Mike: Yes, be more proactive on your eye check-ups and once you find out, be proactive on getting something done about it. It was a great experience for me.
Larry: Don't worry about it, have the procedure and get on with your life.
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