Advice please

[Nala2509]

I have recently been diagnosed with Glaucoma and finding it all very stressful.

I am a contact lens wearer due to my very high prescription and during the last week I think I have dry eyes. I have purchased over the counter drops, which are helping slightly.

Could it be my glaucoma drops causing this as even when I’m not wearing my lenses my eyes are sore. I have emailed the consultant secretary and so far no response.

Any help or advice great fully received. Should I contact my GP for help?

[Jennymary]

I've never been able to wear contact lenses so not able to advise much, other than maybe a chat with a pharmacist or your optician.Glaucoma, however is a, different story as I was born with the condition, and I'm 4th generation in the family, its never stopped me living a full life, always worked and was a car driver until August 2017, long story why I stopped, the best glaucoma advice I can give is remember to put your drops in, and keep your hospital appts, any more questions I might be able to help, good luck

[Nala2509 in reply to Jennymary]

Thank you for taking the time to reply, much appreciated. I have never missed putting my drops in and I am waiting for my next appointment at the hospital, but I have found the whole thing extremely stressful. I guess it’s all the unanswered questions and what the future may hold. Thank you again 😊

[Vich81]

Hello. It will most likely be your eye drops drying your eyes out I’m afraid. They do take their toll on eyes but luckily there are drops and gels out there that can help soothe them. Get your GP or consultant to prescribe Hyloforte and Clinitas gel. My word of warning would be if you don’t sufficiently lubricate your dry eyes, then you are an increased risk of getting an infection, especially as you are a lens wearer. I persevered until with wearing my lenses until two years ago when I ultimately decided my eyes were just getting too sore and dry each day. I would say I did wear them for a good 13 years (even with a bleb). Perhaps you could just wear them on special occasions or cut down the days you put them in? Do get some drops to lubricate your eyes though. They will feel better for it.

[Nala2509 in reply to Vich81]

Thank you so much, I have already reduced wearing my lenses, but will try and reduce further. I still haven’t heard back from the consultant secretary, so I will contact my GP and hopefully they will be able to help. Thank you again, much appreciated.

[Sunshine8888]

Hi I was diagnosed twenty years ago and only in the last couple of years was told to use dry eye drops. The eye clinic have given me Evolve Preservative free and told me to use them at least four times daily and for me it has made a huge difference especially as I am on three different eye drops for my eyes. So 9 drops per eye per day, sounds awful actually once in the routine it’s really ok. Glaucoma U.K. have a selection of really good booklets, Webinars, videos and even a podcast, all with great information. I also used their suggested list of questions for hospital visits, I feel more informed and in control having a better understanding. This forum offers fantastic support we are here for each other, wished I had found them years ago! So know you are not alone there is always someone here who will understand what you are going through oops alarm going off for next eye drop 🤣

[Nala2509 in reply to Sunshine8888]

Thank you so much. I have requested contact with my GP as still no response from consultant secretary, so hopefully I can get it sorted. At the moment I just feel completely consumed by the whole thing, but I’m sure things will settle down. Thank you again for your help.

[Stairs10 in reply to Sunshine8888]

hiI am so impressed that you are managing to cope between eye drops. I set up my phone to buzz me for each eye drop reminder but I just feel like Pavlov's dog sometimes ha ha. I'm finding it hard to work or do anything much at the moment due to the discomfort and the short time periods between eye drops.

My heart sinks every time the ophthalmologist adds yet another eye drop because they can't just be put in at the same time can they?

Thanks for the tip about the webinars.

[Sunshine8888]

Let’s us know how you get on. Take care x

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello Nala. If your eyes are sore, possible red and inflamed and you are using a bottled drop, it could the preservative that is causing the discomfort. I'm glad that you have acted upon it and emailed your consultant. There is not real reason why you can't carry on wearing contact lenses. The only frustration I have been told is that you have to take them out when putting your drops in and waiting 15 minutes before you put them back on. I used to wear contact lenses every day but found my eyes were beginning to feel dry. I now only wear them occasionally and use eye dry eye drops when I need too. If you wear 30 day contacts change them to daily ones as this will be much better for you and give your eyes a break from wearing them when you want or need too. I hope the consultant gets back to you soon.

[Nala2509 in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you Trish, much appreciated. I don’t wear soft lenses, I wear gas permeable (hard), worn them for 40 plus years without any problems at all, so I am really hoping I can at least wear them for a couple of hours a day, a few days a week. I have heard from the eye clinic today and managed to get an appointment for end of next week, which is brilliant. Hopefully I can get this sorted and get on with my life, instead of being in a state of worry constantly. Thanks again for your help.

[Beecalmed]

Hi Nala 2509! Sorry to hear youre suffering. Although Glaucoma drops do tend to irritate and dry your eyes (some drops more than others) if you have noticed a significant drying/sore eyes/redness/irritation I would keep trying the consultant’s secretary but also see your optician to check what’s going on. The optician can write to the consultant with what they find. I have always had sore eyes with glaucoma drops however a change in drops concluded with increasing and worrying dry, itchy, blood shot and irritation so I saw my optician and she thought I might be allergic to preservative and wrote to my consultant. The consultant prescribed preservative drops on the basis of her letter. I’m now on preservative free drops and the change was amazing. I did suffer throughout lockdown (so a year) and wish I’d pushed earlier. For info I wear contact lenses occasionally. Good luck!

[Nala2509 in reply to Beecalmed]

Thank you so much for your reply, much appreciated. I have managed to get an appointment at the eye clinic at the end of next week, so hopefully it can be sorted out. I am on preservative free drops for my glaucoma already, but hopefully they can offer an alternative that may suit me better, as I have never had any issues with my lenses in 40 plus years. I have also booked an appointment to see my optician but sadly that’s not until the middle of May. Thank you again for your help.

[Stairs10 in reply to Beecalmed]

Oh this is useful to know!I didn't understand the need for seeing an optician if I don't need glasses and thought I would just be wasting her time. But now I see there could be a benefit.....

Thanks