in mid april 2008 i was told by opthalmologist i was a glaucoma suspect. i do not have glaucoma, but have a cupped optic nerve putting me at risk for the disease. i was told by a lady at a glaucoma foundation over phone that menopuause can trigger glaucoma. does anyone know if this is true, and any additional details you may have. much appreciated. thankyou.

My opthamologist has never mentioned anything about meno being a trigger for glaucoma and he has been following me closely for years for this disease. My father had glaucoma - literally woke up one morning blind!...and that is a high risk factor, apparently. If a parent has the disease, you are at much higher risk of developing it. So, I have been closely monitored every six months since I turned 40, and so far my tests have been normal. I am due for another visit in June, so I hope this trend continues!
I know I have not answered your question...I will ask my doctor about the menopause connection when I see him next month to get his opinion on this.

Good luck - the key is frequent monitoring, since this is a silent disease. It can come on very quickly, with no symptoms at all! Frightening!

Di

Hi, I also am monitored for glaucoma as my father has it, and I have normal/high eye pressure. I have heard that only a certain type of glaucoma comes on fast, and that is a rarer type. I believe that most glaucoma is insidious, and that's why regular check-ups are advised. I have regular eye exams, and my optic nerve photographed every 5 years. I just had an exam in April, and my pressure had actually dropped.
I have not heard of a menopause connection, but I do know that this is a disease of aging eyes.

Me again. This is a quote from the Glaucoma Research Foundation's webpage:

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: This is the most common form of glaucoma, affecting about three million Americans. It happens when the eye’s drainage canals become clogged over time. The inner eye pressure (also called intraocular pressure or IOP) rises because the correct amount of fluid can’t drain out of the eye. With open angle glaucoma, the entrances to the drainage canals are clear and should be working correctly. The clogging problem occurs further inside the drainage canals, similar to a clogged pipe below the drain in a sink.

Most people have no symptoms and no early warning signs. If open angle glaucoma is not diagnosed and treated, it can cause a gradual loss of vision. This type of glaucoma develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. It usually responds well to medication, especially if caught early and treated.

I am also a glaucoma suspect. Both my grandparents had it and I am monitored for it every 6 months due to my pressures being raised but so far so good. My doctor did not mention menopause as being the cause for this disease but she did say that the body changes continuously during menopause and it was definitely a time in my life to be hypersensitive to any changes. I also have Sjorgen's (dry eye and mouth), which can cause problems with the eyes. I am being evaluated for punctal plugs. I will have to ask my eye doctor if menopause is a direct cause of glaucoma or not.