Glaucoma and complains, should I take them seriously

[Anonymous]

80 yo father has glaucoma that responds to meds fairly well, so eye pressure is relatively well managed.

However he keeps complaining how his eyes are “killing him”, how he can barely do anything because his eyes are so bad, etc etc.

This mostly relates to social activities with a cognitive element (think puzzle club or sudoku get togethers or language courses for seniors) which I make him do, otherwise he just sits in his house and doesn’t really do much except taking walks, and feels compelled to talk to me every day about every little thought that comes into his head.

So, are his complaints legit? Should I help him talk to his dr about them? Maybe advocate for him?
Or is it just a passive aggressive “you are making me do all those activities and it makes my eyes hurt” sort of thing?

So far I’ve asked him to tell me in writing what exact symptoms he has of “his eyes bothering him”.

[Anonymous]

what would you suggest if it was your kid?

[Anonymous]

He is a grown person, correct? Of course you help him share his concerns and pain with a doctor. Why are you treating him like a toddler?

[Anonymous]

I hope this isn’t real.

[Anonymous]

Dry eyes? That can be really painful

[Anonymous]

Not your question but let the poor man skip puzzle club or sudoku get togethers or language courses for seniors, for heaven’s sake, if he doesn’t want to go. Why are you torturing him?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not your question but let the poor man skip puzzle club or sudoku get togethers or language courses for seniors, for heaven’s sake, if he doesn’t want to go. Why are you torturing him?

Oh he is of course “allowed” to skip it if he doesn’t feel well, I just ask him to join and go there from time to time health permitting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He is a grown person, correct? Of course you help him share his concerns and pain with a doctor. Why are you treating him like a toddler?

I mean he can do it, it’s not like I am against it, I just don’t understand of if I need to do more outside of taking him to his regular appointments? Or is he just complaining for attention?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:what would you suggest if it was your kid?

With kids you can usually tell if they are faking pain or not, and it’s not natural for kids to have pains.
It’s different as we age

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dry eyes? That can be really painful

He has artificial tears but “forgets” to use it

[Anonymous]

Untreated or undertreated glaucoma is PAINFUL (ophthalmology RN here). Make sure that his pressures are at a good level and there is compliance with any prescribed drops

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Untreated or undertreated glaucoma is PAINFUL (ophthalmology RN here). Make sure that his pressures are at a good level and there is compliance with any prescribed drops

Thank you! He is compliant AFAIK, his next appt is end of April.

Is there anything else I can do for him?

[Anonymous]

Update: I asked him for exact symptoms and honestly it sounds like dry eyes. Told him to use artificial tears and also take Zyrtec for a week to see if it’s allergy related.

Also asked him to temper his complaints to me because it’s making me worried but it seems like it’s all pretty mundane stuff.

[Anonymous]

Every time he complains, ask him if he needs to see the doctor.

I have dry eyes right now because of allergies and an autoimmune condition that causes dry eyes. Nothing to do with glaucoma, but with that added issue, I would be getting him to the ophthalmologist more frequently.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every time he complains, ask him if he needs to see the doctor.

I have dry eyes right now because of allergies and an autoimmune condition that causes dry eyes. Nothing to do with glaucoma, but with that added issue, I would be getting him to the ophthalmologist more frequently.

You just gave me an idea! I have anti allergy eye drops I never opened and I think they are still not expired, OTC. I’ll bring him those!