I was referred to the local eye hospital by my optician 8 years ago as the “puff test” highlighted raised pressures in both of my eyes. I’ve had yearly appointments at the hospital and thankfully no eye problems detected except for the raised pressures which fluctuate but are consistently over 23. I was once told at the clinic that as my eyeballs are small and I have thick corneas, the high pressures are possibly natural.
At my early morning hospital check up last week the pressures were 30 and 31. All of a sudden I was asked if I wanted a SLT or lifetime drops and sent home with Tiopex eye drops. There’s no history of glaucoma, or other major eye problems in my family. The eye tests I had were all fine again and my eye sight hadn’t changed (6/6) with my prescription glasses. so I was quite shocked. I also felt the eye check was rushed and reasons for the sudden change in treatment were not fully explained. I read the Tiopex patient sheet and got more anxious so haven’t started them yet. Waiting now to hear from the hospital for the SLT appointment where I hope to go through everything with the consultant before agreeing. My worry is that the SLT and drops might cause problems for my eyes which are working fine, just with high pressure. I don’t want to lose my eyesight, but am also scared that the treatment might cause me more problems. I’m also in remission of Crohn’s disease so don’t want to set that off again. Would welcome some help with my decision making. Thanks
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Shinyuke
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Hi Shinyuke, this is a wonderful forum and you will feel supported as we are the users of drugs and procedures, all information is coming from experience.
I have had SLT after a high pressure of 28.
Each person is an individual, you may not get glaucoma with your high pressure. However they just do not know, therefore they treat the pressure.
I was on a beta blocker and I could not handle the side effects it was alzarga and i was also taking monoprost . Now i am just on monoprost and that is not a beta blocker and no preservative.
SLT will not destroy your eyes. there are articles in this site to read and what it is all about. It opens up the drain valves in your eyes to reduce the pressure.
I would definitely get the SLT if I were you, you may need to still continue with drops however maybe not a beta blocker but an alpha antagonist. i have done a great deal of research on drops and advice and posted them.
if you have tiopex gel in separate viles that has no preservatives in it.
Just to let you know if you decide to get SLT it also works better on a 'virgin' eye so if you decide to get it the sooner you get it the better. it takes 5 minutes, you dont feel anything, you sit in the same chair that you get a pressure test in.
This is a good a answer, SLT can't do any harm, so definitely worth a go and for sure do it straight away on virgin eyes, because there's a good chance it will be painless and very effective. before going down the never ending eye drop/operation route.
I,too, just had raised pressures...called ocular hypertension... but all other eye checks were normal. This was about 6 years ago. My ophthalmologist also said I had thick corneas and therefore the readings may be normal for me but recommended I use eye drops to lower the pressure anyway as there was the likelihood that the ocular hypertension would become glaucoma in the future.
Fast forward to last year and pressure in right eye 34. Vision normal but OCT showed glaucoma now. Therefore had laser treatment on both eyes which was unsuccessful at lowering the pressure so then had a goniotomy and cataract removal in the right eye in June this year. As of August this had reduced the pressure to 16 and I'm hoping this stops the progression of glaucoma. The left eye still just has ocular hypertension and while it is stable they do not recommend surgery. Does this sound familiar, and help?
Thanks for the response Floaters, I’ve left the eye drops in the cupboard. I’m still pondering on what to do. Everything with my eyes has been checked and there’s no glaucoma which is great, but the potential SLT and beta blocker eye drops worries me. I don’t know why I can’t just carry on being monitored?
sorry to jump in I read your posts too I think u should try 2nd opinion. Ur pressures are high thou I’ve recently had lazer both eyes and on 2 lots of beta blockers I’m ok 6-7 years into glaucoma . Take care of ur eyes 👀
Hello, . The main problem of glaucoma is Visual Field Defect. A person with Normal pressure can be suffered from glaucoma complication - visual field defect. The visual acuity test alone is not enough. Recently the NICE guide line for management of glaucoma has been changed. e.g SLT should be first line treatment. In my case - I was on various eye drops for many years because SLT was not available at that time and now ended up with Trabeculectomy. I am now no more eye drops. You have already had other medical problem - Crohn's disease. There are always pros & cons in every treatment. Please discuss with the consultant what is the best treatment for you. With best wishes.
Someone can have Ocular Hypertension for many years with no sign of glaucoma. But if the IOP is not controlled by drops alone or there is a significant jump, the consultant will offer either drops or SLT. If left at the level of pressure you have mentioned there is a higher risk of glaucoma developing.
As you have decided not to take the drops, it is very important that you make the consultant aware asap of this as your glaucoma is not being lowered while waiting for the SLT to be done. They may want to bring the appointment forward.
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