Glaucoma - Please share your experiences.

[Disappointed]

I have had several eye issues including retina tears during the last couple of years.

Yesterday, my ophthalmologist diagnosed me with Glaucoma and prescribed Travatan Z eye drop to be used daily. The test shows that I have lost peripheral vision and she is trying to stabilize my eyesight and prevent further deterioration.

Please share your experiences.

Thx,

MP

 

[Dawg52]

A few years ago my eye doc classified me as a glaucoma 'suspect' with no eye drops required. A little over a year ago some markers indicated I officially had it or was close to having it. So he prescribed Latanoprost drops and I take it every night. My eye pressure was 16 before taking the med and now is around 11. To be honest I never noticed anything wrong with my vision and it's still good today. Perhaps he was just being proactive but I'm fine with taking the eye drops.

 

[Disappointed]

Dawg, are you still using Latanoprost? Did it cause red eye?

Thx,

MP

 

[PatSea]

I have had glaucoma for about 30 years. I have not lost any vision. I see an Ophthalmologist two to three times each year. I am on two eye drops in one eye. I had a trabeculectomy surgery on my right eye and it requires no drops. Glaucoma can be managed.
Glaucoma is heriditary. Two brothers, several uncles and my grandmother have or had the disease.

 

[Disappointed]

Pat, any side effects from your eye drops?
I used mine for the first time last night and it caused redness in both of my eyes.

 

[Dawg52]

Dawg, are you still using Latanoprost? Did it cause red eye?

Thx,

MP

Nope. Haven't had a problem. Yes...still using it.

 

[PatSea]

Disappointed, I've been on 6 or 7 different eyedropss over the years and most if them cause eye redness and skmd caused redness reaction to the skin under the eye.

 

[healthyandfun]

I have had open angle glaucoma for over thirty years. I’ve used various drops and was allergic to several (mainly redness) besides having various procedures and surgeries over the years. Glaucoma is a disease that needs to be monitored with frequent check ups and tests to maintain low IOP. Following doctors orders exactly will help keep the pressure in check and stop eyesight from deteriorating further. I made the application of the drops part of my bedtime routine and never forget. Find the best glaucoma specialist in your area as it will be a long term relationship. Glaucoma can be hereditary, but I am the only one in my family with it. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Dtail]

In terms of redness of the eyes, Lumify works like a charm within 2 minutes of one drop in each eye.
Not sure one can use these drops in conjunction with Glaucoma.
The drops are expensive for non prescription eye drops.

 

[Disappointed]

Thanks Healthyandfun and Dtail,
It’s pretty scary for me as my peripheral vision is narrower without me being aware of. I have always had my eyes checked regularly but my eye pressure is normal, so my glaucoma is of the normal pressure type. Perhaps that’s why they never suspected glaucoma before.

How are you guys handling the redness in your eyes? Is it part of the deal for using the eye drop?

MP

 

[Rainbowdash]

There are several eye drops used for glaucoma, have your doctor change to one that does not cause eye redness and still able to drop your intraocular pressure.

 

[Paracelsus]

I've had glaucoma for several years - almost a decade. My eye pressure has never been above 18 mm. One eye is more affected than the other. They tried several eye drops in my affected eye, but none worked (no effect or bad side effects) and I lost quite a bit of vision in that eye. I finally had a hole surgically installed in the bad eye and that keeps the pressure down. As drops don't work well in me, I was surgically modified with a hole in my other eye right away when the glaucoma was first seen in that eye - that hole isn't keeping open well. I physically massage both eyeballs to keep the holes open every day. My "good" eye is still pretty good with vision. If I only had my "bad" eye, I wouldn't be able to drive and have other vision limitations.

 

[healthyandfun]

Do ask the doctor to change the drops if redness persists. I had very tired eyes along with extreme redness with three different kinds. It did take tinkering to find the right one for me as some drops became less effective over time. Also, after cataract surgery I developed dry eyes. Discovered that I was allergic to the preservative in the bottled over the counter version and switched to the preservative free vial type. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you.

 

[latexman]

Almost the same experience as you. I developed an epiretinal membrane or macular pucker and my Dr. referred me to Duke Eye. In Duke's workup they gave me a peripheral vision test. They said I also had glaucoma in my right eye, but my pressures have never been high. they are usually 15-18 mm Hg. So, I am on Latanoprost, one drop at night. I also use it in my left eye because one of the side effects of Latanoprost is eye lash growth is accelerated. Some people without glaucome use it for that.

No redness with Latanoprost.

 

[MRG]

I'm high risk based on family history, both DM and my sister have issues.

I have recently been diagnosed with a macular pucker, is there a connection between a pucker and glaucoma?

I see a surgeon next week, she fixed my detached retnia now I have a retnia pucker. My vision is majorly distorted in the eye she "fixed" I'm not sure I'm up for a pucker surgery. Not sure if it's going to help my vision and I'm not up for the recovery. The world is like living in a fun house, everything is distorted like I'm looking through a convex mirror. I'm guessing that causes the major daily headaches I'm having?

 

[gerntz]

My pressures gradually rose from low 20's to 25-27 & docs were worried I'd develop glaucoma. Put me on Lumigan, 1 drop/eye/night, 3-4 years back & they've dropped & stabilized around 18-20. Docs OK at that level - say anything below 22 should be OK. Also, think mine might be elevated in part due to think corneas. I get pressures check 3X/yr & have a field of vision test 1/yr. Nothing's changing.

 

[pacergal]

Have had glaucoma for several years. Tried a couple different eye drops, sticking with latanoprost as it seems to cause the least irritation. I keep mine in the refrigerator, as that has seemed to be less irritating for me.
When I was working and on computers all day, I would use a lubricating eye drop first, wait about 5 minutes, then use the RX drops and that seemed to help.
If you are getting red eyes, I would definitely check back with doc and get a different RX.

 

[Disappointed]

Thanks everyone for sharing.
Will see my ophthalmologist in couple of weeks and will ask for different drops if the redness does not go away.

 

[Moemg]

I have had several eye issues including retina tears during the last couple of years.

Yesterday, my ophthalmologist diagnosed me with Glaucoma and prescribed Travatan Z eye drop to be used daily. The test shows that I have lost peripheral vision and she is trying to stabilize my eyesight and prevent further deterioration.

Please share your experiences.

Thx,

MP

I have been getting IV antibiotics at an infection control center . I met a woman there who is having i.v antibiotics because of loss of peripheral vision which her doctor thinks was caused by lyme disease .She had no other symptoms.

 

[friar1610]

I'm 74 and have been on drops for at least 20 years. My mother had it so that fits the pattern. I have had ALT and SLT (laser) surgery on both eyes with little success. I've had a trabeculectomy on one eye with only some success. I currently take 3 different eye drops 4x daily in various combinations (Azopt, Timolol and Lumigan). I see an excellent ophthalmologist 3-4x annually at Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. My pressures have been holding pretty consistently at 12-14 for the past several years. My peripheral vision has deteriorated gradually over the years although it's been so gradual I haven't really noticed it. My vision with glasses - both distance and reading - is very good. The trabeculectomy diminished my reading vision in that eye and it never fully returned to its pre-surgery level. And I was not able to fully stop eye drops in that eye either. It seems like my phone alarm is always sounding (each mealtime and bedtime) to take drops - a minor inconvenience but much preferable to going blind. If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to ask here or PM me. My simple advice is to take this seriously but not to freak out about it. Train yourself to be 100% compliant with what the doc tells you to do and see him/her regularly. Good luck.

 

[Marita40]

I was diagnosed with pigmentary glaucoma a number of years ago, in one eye. I had also had surgery for a macular pucker in that eye, and I have retinal issues (myopic degeneration) as well in it. So I am used to seeing a retinal specialist as well as a glaucoma specialist every couple of months. For years I was on one drop daily of Timolel in that eye. After a bad eye pressure spike a year ago that took months to resolve, I am now on Cosopt in that eye twice per day. It does not cause redness, but we tried several different drops before that, like Rhopressa, that did not work but did cause redness. No surgery indicated yet, but obviously this eye has given me lots of trouble over the years. The other eye is fine. I would also ask your doc to experiment with different drops to see if one works without redness. My doc said never use this like Lumify that are purported to get the redness out as they are temporary fixes and not for conditions like this.
I think the key is to find the best glaucoma specialist you can and to keep up frequent appointments, if only for a pressure check. Also, I've learned over the years that, like blood pressure, eye pressure can vary a lot during the day and is also somewhat an "art" (as my doctor called it) when different people measure it. For example, the assistant in the first room measures "20" but 5 minutes later the doctor gets "18" in the next room. This has frequently happened to me, so I no longer freak out when I hear a borderline number. Finally, what is a "normal" number for people vary. My eye pressure in that eye is just fine between about 18-23. It has never been lower than 18.

 

[pdxgal]

I've tried 5-6 different drops over the last few years, and IOP has not been able to be well stabilized. Recently tried Lumigan with good results (at least initially), but my insurer won't cover it. So I'm thinking of paying out of pocket, which is very costly. However, the mfr does offer a "coupon" program that lowers the cost significantly. Curious if any other folks here on Lumigan have gone that route.
I imagine its somewhat of a Faustian bargain, that the trade off for the discount is that the company will harvest and sell my data, but am not totally sure how these programs work.

 

[LateToFIRE]

I've been on drops for about 20 years, both eyes. Had a laser procedure done a couple years ago on one eye (office procedure) as was experiencing some blurring thought to be caused by elevated pressure in my sleep, no further issues. Pressure has been stable in this time. Tried Travatan a few years ago, could not adapt, caused too much redness, made me look like a drug addict. Have had good experience with Timolol, once in the morning, no issues. Of course, YMMV, different folks will have different levels of issues, ultimately the doc knows best.

P.S. Don't panic. As you can see these issues are very common. You'll be ok so long as you get checked/treated on a regular schedule, which reminds me I'm overdue.

 

[friar1610]

I've tried 5-6 different drops over the last few years, and IOP has not been able to be well stabilized. Recently tried Lumigan with good results (at least initially), but my insurer won't cover it. So I'm thinking of paying out of pocket, which is very costly. However, the mfr does offer a "coupon" program that lowers the cost significantly. Curious if any other folks here on Lumigan have gone that route.
I imagine its somewhat of a Faustian bargain, that the trade off for the discount is that the company will harvest and sell my data, but am not totally sure how these programs work.

Lumigan is one of 3 different drops I take daily. I only take it at bedtime, so I believe it is a slower release medication to control my pressure until AM. I am very fortunate to have a very robust prescription plan (a benefit of almost 30 years in the Navy) so I don’t have a good sense about costs.

 

[MRG]

I got it from my mother. She was mostly blind at her death from the disease. She was also demented and back then she had to take multiple drops multiple times daily. That was impossible for her and my ADHD father was incapable of helping..


I take Timolol and Latanoprost in each eye daily on addition to having the laser procedure. I don't see my specialist till next month. Yes I've noticed a difference in my peripheral vision and hope it's not getting worse. No problem with red eyes from the drops.

Make sure you understand what medication you can use with this disease.