Thanks for the response.....I made an appointment to see my ophthalmologist next week for a complete exam....Hopefully, I can discontinue using the Travatan Z.....I'm concerned there are side effects with long term use when there is no longer a pressure need.
What you may be referring to is people with very very mild glaucoma and very little money that are on expensive drops like Lumigan and Travatan Z in some cases with very careful monitoring may be able to use the drops once every two or three days. I think it not a good idea and don't do it in my practice. If there's a money problem I recommend selective laser trabeculoplasty.
The eye pressure in my right eye was about 24-25 today and the dr. wants me to use Travatan Z, one drop each night.
I am wondering if anyone has ever had any bad non optic side effects? I sure hope not because I seem to get strange side effects sometimes from safe medicines. I once took Centrum Silver for a while and it started my ears to having tensor tympanic spasms, a thumping booming thing that was horrible.
And the new doctor suggested to use Travatan. Is there any difference between Latanoprost and Travatan?
I would like to know if I am suffering from chronic closed angle glaucoma ( I understand that open angle glaucoma is the more common form) and if so is the ache in the eyelids due to that? Or is it more possible that this is a symptom of dry eyes?
In addition, I have been using Xalatan for a week now. It seems to make my eyes itchy. The itchiness seems to be transient meaning it isn't persistent but fluctuates.
Your thoughts on the docs LS opinion ( on net ) and do you feel that the between 20-40 and 20-50 acuity may be reasonable given all the eye trauma , dry eye, Rosecea, and forgot mild leakage on dye test
from diabetes ( not in macula area ) Things have improved so much in the past few months-wouldn't want them to get worse with even more surgery . Maybe doc has a point.
L noticed theres a drop called Duotrav which contains timolol and brinzolamide, so l guess it sort of a combination of azarga and travatan . This is a once a day drop, l was wondering if l were to stop taking the azarga and travatan and instead take DUotrav once a day if it would be as effective but with less side effects.
Earlier that year, 2/09, I was diagnosed with partial vitreous detachment in both eyes but from what I understand it is not relevant and my doctor did not comment on my pupil size so I do not think it was present at the moment ( I was examined before being dilated).
I went to see my general ophthalmologist around 10/09 for pupil size difference and after examining me with slit lamp in bright and dim light, doctor diagnosed that my RIGHT smaller pupil is the abnormal one.
If you still have it read the package insert that you get when you get a new bottle of medicine. Or go on the internet and read the side effects. I would be worried about being under the care of anyone that did not recognize these as common problems. If you see an optometrist I would suggest switching to an Eye MD ophthalmologist, if you see an ophthalmologist I would suggest getting a second or third opinion from a different Eye MD perhaps one that specializes in glaucoma.
Lumigan is a glaucoma medication that is put directly on the eye. Latisse is the same medication, different packaging for eyelash growth and it is painted on the eyelashes with a brush.
I suppose the study that was completed 12/31/09 for growing eyelashes was only done on upper lid eyelashes.
Then that's all that the FDA will allow them to say.
He recognized there may be a connection between the nasal spray and elevated IOP. But not enough data exists to determine if this is the problem and if it will eventually go away. But as a precaution he decided to prescribe pressure reducing drops. I had a reaction to the drops the first day and returned to his office to report the reaction (bloodshot eyes). While rechecking my pressures,he found that they had dropped to 16 with only one application which he suggested is not usual.
The only thing that may help is stopping the lumigan and eventually you may see some improvement. You can also get the same problem with travatan and xalatan. I suggest you look into SLT laser treatment as a way to reduce the pressure and maybe drop down to just one medication a day hopefully. Then you might be able to use alphagan or trusot/azopt or a beta blocker and avoid the darkening problem.
Alphagan is less expensive than Alphagan P. The difference is the preservative that is less irritating to some people with the "P" type. The IOP lowering capacity is the same. Xalatan (latanoprost) is often NOT used after intraocular surgery as it may increase inflammation and swelling in the macula. Home tonometry doesn't work for most people (scratched corneas, inaccurate readings, excess anxiety) discuss with the glaucoma specialist.
For example, if you have Medicare and your income/2 is below $29,140, Pfizer will provide the medication for free. The trick is you have to submit a hardship form along w/application. Call them at (800) 707-8990 and tell them you have Medicare and they will send the form with the application. You don't have to be in the coverage gap. Also call if you don't have insurance.
Xalatan is similar to Travatan or Lumigan--these are used 1st line often these days.
There are 4 times of glaucoma medications available. In the Xalacom family there are two stronger medications lumigan and Travatan-Z. If you do need glaucoma surgery there are many options and more becoming available all the time they use MIGS (minimally invasive glaucoma surgery) THEY CAN BE REPEATED IF NECESSARY. There are also several new glaucoma drops in the testing pipeline.
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