Managing your glaucoma drops

Barrington Chambers:

My name is Barrington Chambers and my eye condition is glaucoma. In the early '90s, I started to work full time. Engineering, it was all nights. I couldn't see any problem then but gradually when I stop working at night and start to work inthe day time, to drive in the sun, the bright sun, there was a little dot in my left eye. So then it start to get larger and larger. When it happened to me I think I was about 29, 30. It had damaged a lot of the nerve at the back of my eyes. Two operations I've had since and I've got a little bit of sight in my right eye.

Since I had the operation for glaucomaI've been using drops to keep the bit of visionI've had then. Using my drops is like having something to eat now as you need to use your drops. When I first started to use the drops after I had my operation I used to have to take drops every three hours, every six hours. There was four different type of drops. But generally I don't like to use two drops at the same time. I would - I would use one now at one' clock or 12 o'clock and then 15, 20 minutes after I use the other one. But I never like to use both at the same time.

But then I used to consult my professor and say, can I do this, can I - and he said yes, do it your way. As long as you use your drops. I've got friends who gave up on life and I think I was in that position once. I was going to give up on life. Oh I can't be bothered. But then when you think about so many famous blind people around the world like Stevie Wonder, Mr Blunkett and all of them. I thought if they can do it, I can do it also.

Since I'velost my sight I decided to try something new. I met some people and they decided to form a reggae orchestra in Bristol. We travel a lot around England and play music. When I'm travelling away I always have my cool bag. So I would put my drops in the bag with an ice pack thing in it and keep the drops cool.

I continue to use eye drops now so I only use the drops at night when I'mgoing to bed. When it comes to taking your drops, make sure you wash your hands with soap. Make sure you cleanse your hands properly. Because if you have had an operation on your eye you can pick up bacteria really, really easy. Never use the drops over 28 days, always chuck them in the bin. Make sure you have new ones before you chuck it away still.

Never let the tip of the bottle touches your eye lid. Always make sure it's hanging over your eyes to drip it in. Because you can pick up bacteria from that also. But if you're not happy with your drops or there's something funny about it, always go back to your nurse, doctor or optician. But please don't wait because if you wait, it's going to be too late.

For more information on glaucoma, visit rnib.org.uk and search for glaucoma.

rnib.org.uk