In my first true 24-hour eye pressure monitoring period (back in 2007), where supine eye pressure measurements were taken, I found out that my eye pressure is much higher at night than expected. I also found out that my blood pressure is much lower. That's a bad combination of pressures for the health of the optic nerve.

If you are continuing to experience deterioration of your optic nerve in spite of having low eye pressure (such as normal tension glaucoma - also called low tension glaucoma), you may find this information very interesting. In fact, I think all glaucoma patients who have any progressing optic nerve damage should have their eye pressure monitored during the night (ideally while they sleep at home in familiar surroundings).

My doctors are responsible for the real intrepretation of my Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT-II) results. However, being a curious person, I like to understand the results myself. This blog post is my attempt to share what little I know about HRT results so far.

I have made my HRT-II results from 2006 and 2007 available online:

Someone made the following comment in regard to my statement that stress increases my eye pressure.

Most people consider motorcycle racing to be an adrenaline sport. Indeed it is -- for the fans. The racers should be relaxed and calm on the track. The fastest racers are the most relaxed racers. Adrenaline burns excess energy and it makes you tense. It's hard to ride your best if you are tense.

Eye

What is Eye? Eye is the official journal of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists. It aims to provide the practicing ophthalmologist with information on the latest clinical and laboratory-based research.

It's Good to be Suspicious
This unusual case stresses the importance of glaucoma screening.
by Jerry Sherman, O.D., F.A.A.O. with Jeffrey Roth, O.D. and Herminder Boparai, O.D.

I wonder if it is possible to guess about the rate of progression of my optic nerve damage (in my right eye) using my existing test results. Unfortunately, over the last 2.5 years since my diagnosis, my optic nerve analyses have not all been performed with the same instruments. However, given the available information, I'm wondering if it is possible to guess whether the rate of damage is slowing since the beginning of 2006 or not.

I have had either a GDx or an HRT test on the following dates:

These are my HRT results from today, 19-January-2007. This test was performed with an HRT-II, which is the same model used for my HRT test in 2006. However, today's tests were done by a different doctor (and different HRT operator) -- in fact, they were done in a different country.

Upon a quick examination, the doctor didn't seem to think there was much progression over the last year. However, I expect further input in the coming weeks.

James Stewart won the Pheonix Supercross on Saturday in front of 44,953 enthusiastic fans. I loved watching the race, but the highlight for me was Jeff Emig's explanation of James Stewart's speed. If you have the race recorded, listen to what Jeff Emig says a few laps after the restart of the main event. Here is a transcript:

 James Stewart won the Pheonix Supercross on Saturday in front of 44,953 enthusiastic fans. I loved watching the race, but the highlight for me was Jeff Emig's explanation of James Stewart's speed. If you have the race recorded, listen to what Jeff Emig says a few laps after the restart of the main event. Here is a transcript:

For the last 26 days my averge daily IOP has been below 15 in my right eye. Given that my right eye tends to have higher IOP, I have been very happy with these numbers. Our plan was to continue this for 30 days (at least) before making any changes in my routine.

A little more than 60 days ago, I wrote a blog post and asked, "Does Stress Increase My Eye Pressure?" At that time I looked back and noted that my intraocular pressure had increased as my business situation had gotten more stressful. Since then, we have collected a lot more data. I think it will prove interesting to compare two similar days and see what we can learn about stress and eye pressure given the additional data.

My pachymetry readings are OD 526 and OS 520. This is thinner than normal. 

My doctor also said, "As you know, you have pigment dusting is on the corneal endothelium.  It is a  a Krukenberg Spindle, but it does not have the typical wedge shape that they usually have."

My pachymetry measurements were taken on 30-Nov-2006. I was first told about the Krukenberg Spindle in September 2004.

I walked away from conventional treatment for my Secondary Closed Angle Glaucoma 9.5 years ago. It was a decision that took enormous personal courage as to do so flew in the face of  threats of dire consequences. That only one eye, the right, was at risk made my decision somewhat easier.  I was told that not only would I lose the vision I would lose the eye itself as the result of the pain subsequent to uncontrolled IOP increases.

A lot has changed in six months. For example, compare these eye pressure values: