Timolol side effects?

[BlueMarina]

From the day I was diagnosed with glaucoma about two months ago my eyesight seems worse, with glare, blurriness and dry, gritty eyes. That was also the day I was switched from latanoprost to latanoprost/timolol. Can timolol cause all of the above? I had SLT three weeks ago and I am waiting for check-up in three weeks time, so hopefully I can change drops. But has anyone experienced something similar? My vision seems to change constantly during the day, literally causing me panic attacks because of blur and glare.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello BlueMarina. Check the Patient information leaflet which comes with the eye drops. If you can relate to any of the side effects, contact the eye secretary and tell them, so they can make the consultant aware. Dont feel as though you have to wait until you see them again.

If you find your vision changes throughout the day, it sounds like you may have dry eye. If you dont have dry eye drops at the moment, they can be purchased from the pharmacy. There are many available, but you need ones that lubricate and hydrate the eye. If , after you try them, you feel the benefit, carry on using them, as ofter as you feel you need to. Once you find the amount of times most beneficial to you, stick to that regime.

[BlueMarina in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Hi Trish, thank you so much. Do the dry eye drops reduce the effect of timolol?

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to BlueMarina]

They may help with how sore your eyes feel when you put the drops in.

Try putting the dry eye drops in 30 minutes before your glaucoma drops, it might help.

Also when you go for your next appointment, ask if they think you have dry eye. They may be able to prescribe you a dry eye drop instead of you having to buy some.

[tkhach44 in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Yes, you are right on point, this is what I usually do: Using "Murine tears", as I had read about Timolol that it dries up the eyes. There is something I wonder about: I am 70 years old and I have glaucoma, and it's written that the more you get old, your eyes get more and more dry. So why we are making the eyes more dry if already they naturally get dry with age?

[BlueMarina]

Thank you so much, Trish. How do I contact the eye secretary at Sussex Eye Hospital? They only seem to have an appointments line.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner in reply to BlueMarina]

Just call the main switchboard and ask to be put through to the eye secretary. If you know the name of the consultant ask to speak to their secretary.

[Ritualhazard]

Mine were dry and gritty after a few weeks on the drops . When I went to see my optician for a regular check up he said the oil glands around my eyelids had blocked up , probably from all the drops I was putting in my eyes. I now give my eyes a really good clean with a cotton wool pad soaked in warm water about 10 minutes after the drops making sure to clean both sets of eye lashes at the base. I also use a warm eye mask a few times a week which was recommended to me. They feel a lot better. I was surprised that no one in the hospital had picked it up (the optician actually asked me, do your eyes feel dry and gritty) but I guess they just focus on the glaucoma

[BlueMarina in reply to Ritualhazard]

Thank you, Ritualhazard, this is most helpful. They don't do much TLC in hospitals these days, that's why these forums are so important, so we can do our research and know what to ask the specialists next time. I started using HycoSan Extra drye eye drops yesterday, and they seem to help.

[tkhach44 in reply to Ritualhazard]

Very informative.

[Ritualhazard]

When I say cotton wool pad I mean the things for removing make up not the balls(I’m sure you realised that). This is the warm eye compress I used.

Warm eye compress

[BlueMarina]

I had guessed as much, thank you. And thanks for the pic. I'll investigate.

[tkhach44]

I did not know about the warm compresses. I used to rub the palms together, and apply their warmness to the eyes.

[BlueMarina in reply to tkhach44]

I have not replied to this because so much happened in the meantime. I had trabeculectomy a month ago, so I'm on post-op medication. Timolol doesn't seem to bother my other eye, but I did go preservative free.

[Ruralrobyn]

I find since started using Timolol, this in addition to lanoprost daily I am getting dry mouth blurred vision and sight problems re reading small print that I didn't experience before, also hearing loss, these drops seem to affect the whole body as leak from eyes if I read that correctly?