Birth control pill linked to glaucoma

Ronnie51 · 11-19-2013, 05:22 PM

The latest study reported on the news today says women over the age of 40 who took birth control pills longer than three years may double their risk of getting glaucoma later in life. I do hate these studies. Especially since I took birth control pills for 15 years and now in my early 60's I'm considered a "glaucoma suspect" for Normal Tension Glaucoma. No one else in my family has glaucoma that I know of. Another example of the possible dangerous effects of drugs on people. I truly am sick of this.

GingerAnn · 11-20-2013, 09:31 PM

That's. just. Great. My eye doc told me I may have pre-glaucoma and I'm only 32. New as of this year.

GingerAnn · 11-20-2013, 09:31 PM

Also took Bc for 10 years

Ronnie51 · 11-22-2013, 06:55 AM

GingerAnn, you're only 32. The study mentioned that women in their 40's taking the pill are at higher risk, so it may not apply to you. Is Glaucoma in your family? When you say "pre Glaucoma", do you mean you're a Glaucoma suspect? (I hate that term). May I ask why your eye doctor said that?

GingerAnn · 11-24-2013, 10:10 PM

No glaucoma in my family. My doctor said my blood vessels looked big. She also said some people are born that way. But she put on my chart the diagnosis of pre glaucoma. Maybe I should get a 2nd opinion? I go every year. This was a new doctor for me and the only one that ever said anything.

GingerAnn · 11-24-2013, 10:11 PM

She never said suspect. Just that I should keep an eye on it. But none the less my chart says pre glaucoma.

Ronnie51 · 11-25-2013, 11:32 AM

When you say your blood vessels are big, I think you mean your optic nerve cup is big, and yes, some people are born that way. It's only when the doctor notices that it's getting bigger that he or she suspects glaucoma, so that's why your doctor is keeping an eye on it as a larger cup is considered a risk factor. I have the same situation so my doctor takes a picture of my optic nerve every year to compare to see if the cup has gotten bigger. You mention that this was a new doctor so she hadn't examined your eyes in the past so she wouldn't know if you always had a larger cup.

GingerAnn · 11-25-2013, 10:26 PM

That's helpful and puts my mind at ease. Thanks Ronnie

Ronnie51 · 11-26-2013, 07:11 AM

I'm glad I could help. I've done a lot of research on this since my doctor told me that I'm a glaucoma suspect.

11-19-2013, 05:22 PM	#1
Ronnie51 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,054 Gallery: Ronnie51	Birth control pill linked to glaucoma The latest study reported on the news today says women over the age of 40 who took birth control pills longer than three years may double their risk of getting glaucoma later in life. I do hate these studies. Especially since I took birth control pills for 15 years and now in my early 60's I'm considered a "glaucoma suspect" for Normal Tension Glaucoma. No one else in my family has glaucoma that I know of. Another example of the possible dangerous effects of drugs on people. I truly am sick of this.

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11-20-2013, 09:31 PM	#2
GingerAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gulf coast Florida Posts: 130 Gallery: GingerAnn WOE: Atkins	That's. just. Great. My eye doc told me I may have pre-glaucoma and I'm only 32. New as of this year.

11-22-2013, 06:55 AM	#4
Ronnie51 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,054 Gallery: Ronnie51	GingerAnn, you're only 32. The study mentioned that women in their 40's taking the pill are at higher risk, so it may not apply to you. Is Glaucoma in your family? When you say "pre Glaucoma", do you mean you're a Glaucoma suspect? (I hate that term). May I ask why your eye doctor said that?

11-24-2013, 10:10 PM	#5
GingerAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gulf coast Florida Posts: 130 Gallery: GingerAnn WOE: Atkins	No glaucoma in my family. My doctor said my blood vessels looked big. She also said some people are born that way. But she put on my chart the diagnosis of pre glaucoma. Maybe I should get a 2nd opinion? I go every year. This was a new doctor for me and the only one that ever said anything.

11-24-2013, 10:11 PM	#6
GingerAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gulf coast Florida Posts: 130 Gallery: GingerAnn WOE: Atkins	She never said suspect. Just that I should keep an eye on it. But none the less my chart says pre glaucoma.

11-25-2013, 11:32 AM	#7
Ronnie51 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,054 Gallery: Ronnie51	When you say your blood vessels are big, I think you mean your optic nerve cup is big, and yes, some people are born that way. It's only when the doctor notices that it's getting bigger that he or she suspects glaucoma, so that's why your doctor is keeping an eye on it as a larger cup is considered a risk factor. I have the same situation so my doctor takes a picture of my optic nerve every year to compare to see if the cup has gotten bigger. You mention that this was a new doctor so she hadn't examined your eyes in the past so she wouldn't know if you always had a larger cup.

11-25-2013, 10:26 PM	#8
GingerAnn Senior LCF Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Gulf coast Florida Posts: 130 Gallery: GingerAnn WOE: Atkins	That's helpful and puts my mind at ease. Thanks Ronnie

11-26-2013, 07:11 AM	#9
Ronnie51 Major LCF Poster! Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 2,054 Gallery: Ronnie51	I'm glad I could help. I've done a lot of research on this since my doctor told me that I'm a glaucoma suspect.