When Cataracts Are Good News

I would never have imagined that a diagnosis of cataracts could be a good thing. But for my mother, who has glaucoma, it was just that.

Glaucoma is actually a group of diseases that can cause irreversible blindness. Years ago, my maternal grandmother became legally blind due to glaucoma. Early on she had been misdiagnosed, so instead of controlling the disease, it progressed rapidly, robbing the vision in her left eye. Her doctors then controlled the progression of the disease in the right eye, which included daily eye drops. In those days, the drops were very painful.

My mother, along with her siblings all had various forms of glaucoma. Fortunately, Mom's diagnosis came early enough, allowing her doctors to control and monitor the disease. The drops were not painful, as were her mother's. But, they were expensive and required special handling.

We live in the desert, which meant when I picked up Mom's eye drops from the pharmacy during the summer months, I would need to take along a cooler with an ice pack. Should the expensive medication get overheated, it would be ruined.

Although Mom was fortunate the drops were not painful, as in her mother's day, they did impact her daily life. It was important to remember to take the precise amount, at the same time each day. The eye drops controlled the pressure on her eyes. In retrospect, it was a small price to pay to preserve her vision.

As we get older, our chances of getting cataracts, a clouding of the eye, is not uncommon. When my mother discovered she had cataracts, I don't imagine she considered there would be an upside to the condition. But, there was.

Mother's eye doctor explained she needed cataract surgery. He told her that during the surgery, he could perform a procedure that could possibly alleviate the pressure on her eyes, and eliminate her need for eye drops. It would not cure her glaucoma, but she might be able to stop using the medication.

He told her she was a perfect candidate for the procedure, yet there was no guarantee. Fortunately the surgery was a success, and she no longer has to use daily eye drops. She continues to have regular eye exams, and there may be a day when she must again take the medication, but for now she is very grateful.

Glaucoma can be devastating, as there is no cure and blindness can be swift. Early detection and control is the only way to prevent blindness from the disease. Remember to have regular eye exams, and ask for a glaucoma exam, It takes just a few minutes, and can save your sight.