Monopost eye drops .

[Junep]

I wondered if anyone had any experience of using these at all .

I do think they’re helping with my closed angle Glaucoma . Not quite sure if it’s acute or chronic as 2 different consultants that I’ve seen have different opinions . Unfortunately the clinic I go to is an American owned one and used by the NHS . I have to say I haven’t had very positive experiences with them as you never see the same consultant twice , so daresay that’s why there’s differing opinions . Not easy when you’re in the middle though .

Also I’ve been told by one doc there that you can get headaches and pain in the eyes with glaucoma , which I’ve definitely experienced . However the last consultant I saw said that no there’s no pain / headaches . Now I’ve read quite a lot and pretty much the info is that yes you can get get headaches and pain . So if anyone has similar it’d be good to know .

I’m also waiting for a cataract removal operation .

[Traveller66]

hello-I have been using Monoprost drops nightly as an alternative to Latanoprost generic drops- Monoprost has no preservatives so less likely to cause eye irritation- so far so good- I live in Canada- see the same Opthamologist always so I guess I am fortunate! I think the cataract operation may lower your IOP - this is sometimes the case- it did work that way for me!

[Junep in reply to Traveller66]

Hi , yes the specialist I liked is hoping the cataract op will do the trick for pressure . However when I went the other day the pressure went from 20 to 13 so looks like the monoprost is working . I feel its so important to have to continuation in your treatment.

[bakethat]

Hi, I also have closed angle Glaucoma just in one eye and was put on Monopost once a day at the start of last year together with cosopt drops twice a day. After a few months one of the ingredients in the Cosopt caused me to have allergic blepharitis so the Consultant changed me to Fixapost which apparently is Monopost with a part of the Cosopt drop which is not so likely to cause an allergy, anyway so far so good although I am yet to have my eye pressure checked again but that should be next month so fingers crossed.

I also get regular headaches and have done for a while. Like you I have read headaches can happen with glaucoma but when I asked one consultant they said no so I don’t know what to believe either! I certainly feel it’s the glaucoma as my headaches are around that area.

My glaucoma was only diagnosed about 18 months ago and just in one eye but I had already had cataract surgery in that eye in 2018.

[Junep in reply to bakethat]

Like you I'm certain the headaches and eye pain /aching is down to Glaucoma . We have to listen to our inner selves I'm sure .

[Wonderfullifeandmore in reply to bakethat]

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with closed angle glaucoma in one eye. I have had laser treatment and am taking eye drops. When you get headaches do you just take painkillers or go back to eye clinic.

[bakethat in reply to Wonderfullifeandmore]

Hi, I just take paracetamol but sometimes the headaches go away without. I have mentioned it at the clinic but no one has really said much.

I might ask about laser treatment next time I go, one Dr did say there is a surgery that might help but it may not work so I’m really not keen and luckily my pressures have been acceptable since. Just hoping for the best when they are checked next time.

[Wonderfullifeandmore in reply to bakethat]

thank you for replying bakethat, I hope I don’t have to wait too long for my cataract removal because apparently that will help with the glaucoma.

[Junep in reply to bakethat]

Could I ask what your pressures are please ? That’s where I’m confused as up until very recently actually for three years my pressures were always low so was told no you don’t have glaucoma . However since then I’ve learned you can still get glaucoma with low pressure . Maybe if I’d have had treatment sooner the glaucoma may not have progressed . In fact the one consultant was pretty annoyed when looking at my scans and said that the one hospital said no another doc , maybe , but there was an obvious clear picture of the damaged optic nerve . It really does depend on which doc you get to see , a complete lottery , Well certainly in my experience .

[bakethat in reply to Junep]

yes, I seem to have seen different dr’s every time apart from the last two visits. At the last visit my pressures were 19 in the glaucoma eye that I have drops for and 16 in my so called good eye! The weird thing is I had not long before had the pressures checked at specsavers at a routine eye test and they were 10 and 9 , I couldn’t believe it! They are never that low at the nhs clinic. Apparently the time of day you are checked can make a difference to the pressures too🫤

[Junep in reply to bakethat]

All of this is very new to me but the one doc I saw said that the equipment they use in opticians isn't as sensitive, so maybe that would explain the difference in the results ? I actually presumed that I had Glaucoma in both eyes as i have had pain in both but I haven't been told , so who knows !

[Junep in reply to Wonderfullifeandmore]

it’d be weeks to get in at the clinic so I use a heat pad or paracetamol if it gets very bad , I don’t like taking anything really .

[Murdy1 in reply to bakethat]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing, Tom

[Zen100]

The only way to know if the drops are working is by pressure readings. I'm sure we all have all digits crossed at every test.I was diagnosed after sudden onset of nasty pain in one eye along with reduced colour vision. An optic nerve scan revealed damage to the optic nerve so the consultant arranged an urgent brain MRI to rule out a tumour pressing on the optic nerve. Thankfully it wasn't that but apparently the damage was caused by pressure due to OAG. When I asked if the pain and colour loss were due to Glaucoma the doc just said 'it could be'.

I still get the pain and I believe it's from the nerve.

[Junep in reply to Zen100]

Yes you seem to get very vague answers , I experienced much the same . If they’re eye specialists you would think they’d be aware of symptoms .

[PBX142]

Hi, I use Monopost at night, I don't have headaches but the real reason I'm responding is to say that the one continuous thread you should have is a written summary by each consultant or ophthalmologist after each appt. I'm not clear whether you are seen by NHS people from your comments but presume you are, in which case the summary is sent to your doctor so they can follow prescription changes etc. And if you're not sent a copy, you should be and you can certainly request one. Also a good idea to keep copies of your visual field and optic nerve tests, which you are entitled to. That way you always have a full record of what's going on!

[Junep in reply to PBX142]

I do agree totally . However it seems that there are differing opinions as to whether I have acute Glaucoma or Chronic . I do have a letter that states its chronic , but I know another consultant said it was acute . I really hope he was wrong but as its developed quickly I'm not convinced . Hopefully the drops will continue to work and keep pressures down until I have the cataract operation . I notice on here a couple of people mentioned that they only have it in one eye, I wonder is that usual as I have it in both ? I'll certainly check with my GP about the summaries . Oh and yes it's NHS .

[PBX142 in reply to Junep]

Hi, maybe it doesnt matter whether it's labelled as acute or chronic. I have no idea whether my glaucoma is either, but it's officially normal tension glaucoma - and that's more relevant as regards treatment. At the start several years ago, my glaucoma developed quickly and kept on progressing until the right combo of medications was used to stabilise it. I think it's more usual to have it in both - I have lost vision in my left eye, which is the obstinate one that is worse affected, but although I have lost no visual field at all in my right eye, it still has glaucoma so has to be treated preventively. Yes request and keep all summaries! It might be easier to ask at the source - at the clinic - for your latest and past summaries and test results. If it's NHS, they will have them all on record and are obliged to give them to you, either email or print.

[Junep in reply to PBX142]

Yes I know everyone is entitled to have copies of any tests as I've done it before . At this point I'm still learning about glaucoma so in my next appointment I imagine I may be able to ask more questions . It's all a big learning curve .

[DaisyDoolittle]

I have been using monopost for 3 years to keep pressure down with glaucoma and it is the only one that suits me,just 1drop in each eye before bedtime,use other drops but not so easy on eye waiting for cataract and stents to be put in when my eyes are not so dry

[Junep in reply to DaisyDoolittle]

Yes it’s seeming to suit me at the moment .

[Murdy1 in reply to Junep]

Hi JinepMonopost drops appear to suit most people but doesn't always bring IOP down enough to satisfy specialists. Mine has me on Fixapost now and my IOP has dropped from 21~20 to 14 ~15. I prefer monopost, less painful to me though pain doesn't last long. I have glaucoma in my right eye for some years now and all I can hope for now is to remain stable and hope it doesn't spread to my left eye! Regards, Tom

[Junep in reply to Murdy1]

Hi Tom. Sorry to hear your IOP didn’t come down well enough . Mine came down from 20 to 13 so pretty satisfying at this stage I think . Think I have it in both eyes as geathered as much from specialist . Most I’ve read on here usually have it in only one as a general rule . So guessing I’m fairly unlucky . I haven’t heard of Fixapost , I’m lucky inasmuch as the Monopost doesn’t hurt at all . Just waiting now for the nod from cataract surgeon .

[Amjan]

I have open angle glucoma, I have been using Latanaprost for years but recently my pressure is 30, so only last Wednesday my consultant has put me on monopost once a day and azarga 22x A day. But I have only used them for 4 days and I am getting headaches, soar throat, coughing, and my BP has shot up, struggling to get proper sleep! Has anyone else had the same experience.?

[Vandar in reply to Amjan]

I developed a serious cough when using Monopost drops which has returned after starting the replacement drops Brinzolamide. I am currently waiting for the consultant to decide on the next move. Best of luck.

[Junep]

You would think drops should be fairly innocuous, but sadly they seem to be anything but fir quite a few people . I think everyone should be made aware of possible side effects because on the leaflets supplied they state that it's very rare to get any serious ones . Very misleading. It makes me wonder if people have had life threatening things happen that were logged as other causes .