Glaucoma Treatment Video: Ruth's Story

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Transcript

Ruth: It might be a way of my god talking to me. Slow your roll, Ruth Gordon. This gives you lots of time to be thoughtful, to be loving, caring, I had a lot of time to think about a lot of things since I lost my sight. I’ve been told for several years that eventually the glaucoma will come because there’s no cure for it. And more than likely, you will be blind before you go to heaven.

Dr. Cook: How are you, Ruth?

Ruth: I’m great.

Dr. Glenn Cook, Opthalmologist: Ruth’s back is against the wall; she’s blind in one eye, she’s got 2200 vision that’s declining in her better eye, she’s got poorly controlled glaucoma, which is going to steal whatever vision she has left. Pressure inside the eye is causing damage to the optic nerve which is a cable that carries information from the back of the eye to the brain. On examination she had a cataract; it’s like a dirty window inside the eye.

Because of the density of your cataract, I have no idea how much of the optic nerve is left.

We’re going to be doing a cataract surgery. At the same time that the eye is open, we’re going to take advantage of the new technology that Sharp Coronado Hospital has, which is the endoscopic cycle photocoagulation probe. We use the ECP probe to try to lower the pressure to the point where hopefully she won’t get any more damage to the nerve.

We want the very best for you, but at the same time we have to stay realistic about the outcome.

The potential upside is variable; whatever vision she gets from the cataract surgery will be a big win, but no matter what happens, she will have a chance, a chance to keep the vision that she has.

Ruth: It’s like being in a bathhouse, with steam all around you. I know this little place, I know how many steps it is from this living room to the kitchen, I know how many steps it is from this couch to the bathroom. I ran into that table a few times, so that’s why I’m not allowed to go outside with the baby and the carriage. I would like to be able to stroll her up and down the sidewalk. I have 12 of them I’d like to see get a little older, 12 grand and 8 great-grand.

Straight through this door sill. Stop, stop.

Stop?

Mornings are pretty quiet, huh?

Admitting Clerk: Yeah, everybody’s asleep like they should be.

(laughs)

Now we’re going to the right.

Judy: My name’s Judy I’m going to be the nurse in the room with you this morning.

Dr. Cook:  How are you doing?

Ruth: Dr. Cook?

Dr. Cook: It’s me.

Ruth: (laughs) Good morning!

Dr. Cook: Are you ready?

Ruth: I’m ready.

Dr. Cook: OK, we’re going to take you in there. Time out, if you guys would, everybody, if you would. Ruth, do you agree? Right eye?

Ruth: Right eye.

Dr. Cook: Everybody agree right eye?

Judy: It says right eye.

Dr. Cook: OK, let’s do it. The cataract surgery will be done first. After that we’ll put a lens implant in so that she won’t have to wear really thick glasses. ECP is a treatment that uses the laser probe.

Ruth, I’m about to apply some laser to the eye. Now what this does is it selectively removes the part of the ciliary body that makes fluid. It’s very, very powerful technology for getting the pressure down on the inside of people’s eyes. Ruth, we’re just about done, you’re doing great. OK gang, that’s the ball game. Can I get a couple drops of antibiotic?

Nurse: This is the best part about being here, the warm blankets. It is.

Daughter: Hi, sweetie.

Ruth: Hi. I have some lens.

Daughter: You have some lens? Can you see me?

Ruth: Uh-huh.

Daughter: Thank you, Jesus, you can see me!

Ruth: Yes.

Daughter: You can see me!

Ruth: Don’t cry.

Daughter: How are you doing? He’s a good doctor, huh?

Ruth: Yeah. Good doctor. God bless his heart.

Daughter: Can you see what’s on Lisa’s outfit?

Ruth: It’s got little stripes on it.

Daughter: You go, girl. You can see it! You can see it! She can see!