Advice regarding high eye pressure

[Bertie71]

Hi, I hope you don’t mind me asking a question. I had an acute vitreous detachment with retinal tear on Xmas day and after 2 lots of laser treatment I went for my follow up. They couldn’t dilate my pupils to check the tear/if any more as my eye pressure had shot up to 32. It’s always been borderline. I’m now on Latanoprost drops and due back in a month. I’ve been left v nervous about my eyes, particularly as I’m a carer to my daughter and an artist. They’ve transferred me to glaucoma care. I know I’m lucky as my sight is still ok atm. I just find the doctors are so busy that I went in for one thing and came out with another problem. Leaves so many questions and confusion.

Have you all found the drops helpful? I’ve noticed the whites of my eyes getting redder. My optician was treating me for dry eyes and wondered if the drops make that worse?

[Hidden]

Hi Bertie, I don't know much about retinal tears or vitreous detachment but I do hope the treatment you received has worked for you.It would have been a shock going into hospital with one eye issue and coming home with another to contend with. It will take time to process it all.

Before your next appointment write a list of questions you want to ask and take it with you. I basically forget how to formulate sentences when I'm at the eye clinic so writing questions down in the run up to the appointment helps me.

I am no longer on drops as I've had surgery on both my eyes to solve the drainage issues and lower my pressure. Drops did lower my eye pressure but unfortunately not enough but we are all different and many people on here have been on drops for years and they work well for them. Whilst on drops latterly the whites of my eyes were very red and irritated looking ,an unfortunate side effect of the drop I was on. Some side effects do settle down but if this doesn't don't hesitate to inform your consultant. I've not had dry eyes myself but from speaking to others on here the drops do cause dry eyes for many. A lot of people are on various dry eye drops to combat this,just make sure you take preservative free drops. Others will be able to give you better advice regarding that than me.

You are receiving treatment now for your eye pressure and you will be monitored , these are both positives.

All the best .

[Bertie71 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for responding. I didn’t even know you could tear a retina until a few weeks ago and now I have glaucoma worries too. It’s a huge adjustment. Turning 50 has been eventful. I’m glad you’re doing better. I’m learning so much from reading about journeys on here. I’m still very nervous that I have more tears but it can’t be checked atm. I’ll definitely write down questions. Thank you.

Did you get any vision loss? It’s very early days so I should try not to worry.

[Hidden in reply to Bertie71]

I'm sure it's not the way you expected 50 to be but hopefully the worst is over and it's upwards from here on in. You will be nervous you've had a huge amount to deal with in a very short space of time and anything wrong with our eyesight is definitely scary. The good news is the consultant's have various tools at their disposal to help us and you are receiving treatment now.

I had glaucoma for years unfortunately before it was ever diagnosed, despite never missing an eye test. Eventually I changed opticians just over 2 1/2 years ago and she immediately told me I had glaucoma . I had done badly in my early 50s on a field test and was told it was common,I resat it a few days later and the optician made no comment so I stupidly assumed all was well. I didn't even know why they carried out field tests !!! So I do have quite of sight loss in my right eye and minimal in my left. The positive news is since receiving treatment I've lost no further vision.

I know it's difficult not to worry especially in the beginning as it's all so new but I went probably 7 with glaucoma without any treatment and I still have my eyesight.

This forum is great and the Glaucoma UK helpline is brilliant if you have any questions. You aren't alone in this x

[Bertie71 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much. I wish you’d discovered it sooner. It must have been very frustrating for you. I’m learning all sorts and I can see from this forum that there are so many things they can do. I must stay away from google. Scares you!! I think I’ll call the helpline tomorrow to put my mind at rest. Lovely to meet you x

[Hidden in reply to Bertie71]

Definitely do not Google, it just makes things worse and doesn't give you any proper perspective, phoning the helpline is a much better idea. I am just grateful to have a great consultant and that at the moment my pressure is under control and fingers 🤞 will be for a long time.

I was terrified at first as it was such a shock but you do come to accept it and honestly most of the time now I don't even think about my eyes, until eye appointments when I'm still scared but that's allowed .

Lovely to meet you too x

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello Bertie. The latanoprost will be helping to lower your eye pressure to a safer, more stable level. If the latanoprost is in a bottle with a neck to it, it will contain preservative, that can sometimes cause the eye to become red and inflammed. If this has happened to you, you will need to contact the eye secretary to make them aware. The consultant will want to know if you are not getting on with the drops, and can prescribe you a preservative free option. As you have dry eyes too, a preservative free option is the way forward, as your eyes will be more sensitive to any preservative. Carry on using your dry eye drops as often as you feel it necessary. It is also a good idea to put some dry eye drops in 20 minutes before you are due to put your latanaprost in, as it will lubricate the eye, and the drop may not sting as much.

[Bertie71 in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you so much. I think I’m tolerating them quite well but will definitely use my dry eye drops first. It’s just scary when things suddenly start to go wrong. I’ll write down questions for my next check up 🙏

[eyesong]

Hi Bertie, become very proactive and learn all about your disease and treatments. I have had open angle glaucoma for 30 years used Xalatan at night that had preservatives then found out about other preservative free options , also had laser and SLT laser, none worked, then had cataract surgery both eyes , had detached retina right eye and glaucoma got worse. Now on more drops and pills and recently diagnosed dry macular degeneration disease. My retina Dr. says to avoid surgery if I can as I have too much scar tissue and since this past month my Glaucoma Dr. put me on a new drop that helped my IOP is in line at 17 (good for me). I currently take Cosopt PF 2 times daily , Pilocarpine 1% 2 times daily , Zioptan PF nitely , I take a pill 3 times a day Methazolamide 50 mg. I will do all this to avoid surgery that often still requires going back on drops. Good luck and don't be afraid to Google side effects of your medications and learn about them. Eyesong in Texas.