Preservative free drops

[Crafted]

Hello there

I've recently changed from drops containing BAK to preservative free. Does my body need to learn to tolerate the medicine again? I am using the same medications just free of preservative. I have not really had any reduction in side effects so far other than drops don't sting as much but have gained more undesirable effects. Wondering if this is something I just have to put up with or is it likely that it will improve in time. Consultant keen for me to stay on current combination as they seem to work well on keeping pressure low. Quite concerned when I need to drive to work as my eyes are also more blurry for longer than on drops with preservative. Feeling down what with side effects, not able to sleep and trying to work part time is exhausting. Clobbered with Bradford factor if I take even 1 day off.

[Sunshine88888888]

Hi Crafted so sorry to hear what you are going through. It does take a couple of weeks to get use to new drops however it’s important to note side effects and if they don’t get better to discuss with your consultant. Whenever I worked part time I actually found it more exhausting than full time! I just seemed to be working flat out whether it be in paid employment or trying to manage everything else cos I felt I needed to do loads as I was working part time! Do you drive soon after you’ve taken your drops? Do you suffer from dry eyes? I didn’t realise I did for years, just thought it was side effects from drops. Sleep deprivation is also very hard to cope with as well. I’m sure things will get better, let us know how things go. Take care x

[Crafted in reply to Sunshine88888888]

Hi sunshineNo, I can't drive after the drops for between 1 and 2 hours - it seems to vary. I don't feel that i am safe to drive until my eyes normalise. I don't know if I have dry eyes but I get some sort of yellow crust and large pieces of flaking, dry skin on my lids and also on my face. Sometimes my eye hurts. I am religious with the drops and always take them on time but I am feeling miserable at the moment a prisoner of this disease. I am having a really bad time with stomach problems too and pain and aches in my upper back.

[Crafted in reply to Crafted]

Well I had only 2 hours sleep last night. Increase in digestive problems and felt faint, unwell generally. Couldn't face the drops this morning so I decided to go back on preservative ones so that at least I am having the drops as I couldn't get advice from anywhere today. I think they are too strong for me and too much seems to be going in my system. I read recently that 80% of the eye drop ends up in the system and the liver is bypassed. Couldn't manage another two weeks with those side effects and can never get a Dr appt for days even by phone.

[Astilbe in reply to Crafted]

I used to take Ganfort combination eye drops preservative free. (Timolol and bimataprost) Then, to better prepare for surgery, I was told, my drops were changed to individual Timolol and Latanaprost. On getting my prescription I noticed that the Timolol was half of the dose that I had been having in Ganfort combination. When I questioned this I was told that the Ganfort combination preservative free was only available with the higher Timolol dose. But trials had shown that the half amount in my new individual Timolol was just as effective as the higher dose in lowering eye pressure and with less side effects.

My comment on blurring after inserting the drops is that my experience with Timolol is that it causes dry eyes. When I started using Hyloforte moisturising eye drops (which I have on prescription), they reduced the blurring considerably. and my eyes felt so much more comfortable. You can use them up to 4 times a day. So as Sunshine said, it may be worth considering this. The Hyloforte drops are much better than most that can be bought from the chemist so take that into consideration as well.

[Crafted in reply to Astilbe]

Thank you so much, I can give them a go to see if that helps. In light of the concentration of ingredients in the drops maybe I could ask the consultant if a reduction in the concentration would still be effective. I was taking the pilocarpine 4 times a day and consultant said I could reduce it to three so it would be easier to drive there and back before needing another drop or I would have to stay for 2 extra hours until my eyes cleared.

[Beecalmed]

Hi Crafted! Sorry to hear you’re suffering. I found changing to preservative free drops improved my eye irritation within a few days. How long have you been on the preservative free? You mention crusting on your eyelid, could it be you have an eye infection which could be possible if you have dry or irritated eyes. As you know preservative free you have to be more aware of bacteria and infection. If you’ve been suffering a while I’d get back in touch with your consultant via the department secretary. If there’s a delay getting to see the cobsultant you could ask an optician to check for infection or the condition of the surface of your eye, if they find an issue they can write to your consultant. Hope you get this sorted!🤞🏻

[Crafted]

Thank you. I have only recently switched to PF so not been taking it for long. I think that the flaking and crusting may be contact dermititus but can check with GP about that. I have recently found a community optician who is also a specialist in glaucoma and works at the hospital. He is happy to give advice and can refer on so I could also ring/visit him.

[Ktpink]

Hi Crafted, sorry to hear you are having such a rough time. I recently switched to a combination preservative free drop (fixapost) and it has helped with the dryness that stand-alone preservative timolol caused. You mention pilocarpine, I’ve been on the preservative free of this for eight years but the blurring is something that never goes away with this one, I also get a horrible sniffly nose, sometimes it clears quicker than others. But I totally get what you say about being a prisoner, I used to work as a mobile therapist and my appointments were carefully staged around my dosing schedule! I used to have to park up and have a little blurred moment 😂 I think it’s finding the right drop for you so don’t hesitate to let your Dr know about any side effects, everyone is different. Sounds like you have other health issues going on so that’s tough, tricky enough managing your eyes when you have other stuff. No wonder you are exhausted. I work part time too but have found I’m just about managing since having COVID and my eyes have become unstable recently, have become very depressed about it all but remain hopeful it will pass eventually. Anyway, just wanted to say I hope you get some relief soon and sounds like you are managing a lot of things very well, Karen

[Crafted in reply to Ktpink]

Thanks for your reply Karen. I think you are having a very tough time too and I really hope that you soon have the covid behind you and can get your eyes stabilised again. I can totally understand having depression with everything that's on your plate. It visits me too but I found out my vitamin d levels were low and I feel much better in that sense when I take vit d daily. As you say about pilo PF I did notice my eyes were much more blurry and for longer. I am trying to improve one issue at a time a nd am concentrating on digestion atm. Then I will give the PF drops another go happy to chat anytime you are feeling low x

[Ktpink in reply to Crafted]

How very kind of you thanks, likewise I am always here to chat too. Hoping those digestive issues ease soon for you, take care and go well xo

[Britsontour]

I’m new to Glaucoma diagnosis and thought the drops had to be put in at night … I’m on Monopost preservative free? Do some people put them in during the morning?

[Crafted in reply to Britsontour]

Hello I'm so sorry to hear of your new diagnosis but you are now receiving treatment so hopefully stability is on the cards in the near future. Regarding drops I can only speak for myself and I'm not taking PF drops currently. I take pilocarpine 3 times a day and dorzolomide/timolol combo morning and evening. I tried PF at one point but the side effects were worse than with preservatives for some reason. So I asked to change back. Hope all goes well for you.