Latanoprost drops advice

[Glm1]

Hi, any advice on eye drops, Ive been prescribed Latanoprost but will these make my eyes sore, should I ask for preservative free? Is it best to put them in just before bed and does it have to be the same time each evening, thanks.

[mx20378]

try them and see - I've been using latanoprost *with* preservatives for a few years and have no issues. other people do have problems

i put them in before bedtime. i doubt a bit of time variance will make much difference - i measure with a home tonometer and my pressures tend to be lower in the evening than the afternoon, despite the longer time since last drops. this may be different for different people ofc - i don't really know what causes my pressures to start dropping off in the late afternoon

[Glm1 in reply to mx20378]

Thank you for the advice, I was worried about preservatives, I have asked for preservative free but been told I can't have them due to cost and being single use (unless I have a reaction).

I'm interested in a home tonometer, how does that work?

[mx20378 in reply to Glm1]

i've got an icare home2 tonometer ( UK agent: main-line.co.uk/products/ic... ) - it chucks a tiny probe at your eyeball (you can barely feel it) and measures how hard it rebounds - the harder it rebounds, the higher your pressures

they are very expensive, but occasional measurements at the opticians and hospital did not do me any favours when my RE pressures decided to go crazy between appointments, so to avoid a repeat emergency i decided to measure myself

[Glm1 in reply to mx20378]

Wow they are expensive but a great idea. I'm interested in diet and supplements and how I can reduce with a natural approach (supported with eye drops), I've researched a couple of books who recommend regular pressure checks to see what's working. Thanks.

[Reformer]

I started on Latanoprost and had no problems, but my consultant moved me on to Monopost because of no preservatives - though my prescription says that I can revert to Latanoprost if there are supply issues with Monopost (which there were earlier this year). I do them in the evening at roughly the same time each night, but it varies if I'm out for the evening or something. I had no advice re putting them in, but there are some great videos online (look at Moorfields eye hospital ones) and also some things that are supposed to help with holding the bottle - though I tried them and prefer just doing it myself. The leaflet will say to press by the side of your nose/eye corner to keep the drop(s) in your eye.

[Glm1 in reply to Reformer]

Hi, is monopost in single use as I've been told by the pharmacy only latanoprost do preservative free and they are too expensive/not environmentally friendly. I'm scared to use them tbh as I already have really sensitive eyes.

[Reformer in reply to Glm1]

Yes, Monopost is single use - it's exactly the same as Latanoprost but without preservative. Try Latanoprost and see how it goes (as advised by other replies) and ask to change if a problem. A good way to get better at putting drops in is to practise with lubricant drops - that way you don't waste the prescription ones

[wychwood58]

Well, this is the first drug on the NICE list. I had real problems with it. I think about 90% of people are fine but some react to the preservative in the drops - I did. So I am now on the next drops on the list. I would strongly recommend you buy some preservative free lubricant drops because these help with comfort if your eye gets dry/sore after using the drug. Seems like the clinicians experiment to find the right drops that work best for you and produce minimal side effects... at least i hope that is what they are doing!

[Glm1 in reply to wychwood58]

Thank you, can you recommend any preservative free lubricating drops, I am worried about eye pain as mine are so sensitive but I'm not getting very far with GP and I can't get hold of the Consultant which is frustrating as he's put different comments on my diagnosis letter, one section says left eye open angle with drops prescribed for that one eye and on the back of the letter it says both eyes need drops and i need to inform DVLA so I am completely lost at the minute.

[wychwood58 in reply to Glm1]

Latanoprost does contain preservatives - someone suggests it doesn't. 90% are fine but as I wrote, about 10% get complications. Same with the next one on the list which I think is SAFLUTAN. the preservative-free drops can be bought from any chemist and I purchased Thealoz Duo from a supermarket chemist (about £13). Boots do an own brand preservative free bottle...its cheaper but Thealoz Duo was about the same price at Superdrug

[Glm1 in reply to wychwood58]

Thank you, when would I put the dry eye drops in would this be straight after the Latanoprost or in the morning?

[Glm1 in reply to wychwood58]

Hi, they've changed me to Monopost now but I'm struggling opening my eye in the morning as it feels heavy and dry, when's the best time to use the dry eye drops, can you put them in after you've put the others in the evening or is morning best, thanks

[Helen_GlaucomaUK Administrator]

Do give the eye secretary a call at the hospital to find out if you have glaucoma in both eyes. If you have it one eye and your other eye has good vision, you don't need to let the DVLA know. If in both eyes, you do need to let the DVLA know.

I know taking eye drops is daunting at first but do start using them. If you feel you are experiencing any side effects, you can get the drop changed. The drop is going to help lower your eye pressure and help to prevent any damage to your vision. Putting the drops in at about the same time each evening is helpful. You can allow an hour window each side of that time, if you are out somewhere.

[Glm1 in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you Helen, I will give them a try tonight and try the secretary again on Monday as she is on leave, I've also left a message for the consultant. I am surprised at the lack of info and concern when they diagnosed as I think it could be handled better with more compassion as it can affect all aspects of your life, my support network do seem to be of the opinion 'just put the drops in and you'll be fine' but I don't feel fine 😢

[Glm1 in reply to Helen_GlaucomaUK]

Hi, me again 🙄 sorry, I'm really struggling putting the drops in, I managed last night but as it burned a bit and felt uncomfortable, tonight I can't seem to get the drop in, I know it sounds silly but so far I've managed a small drop on my eyelash and 2 drops down my cheek so I've given up in case some went in. I've watched the Moorfields video but I can't see what I'm doing when I tilt my head back, is it just me or does anyone else struggle. Are there any tips or aids to help keep my eye open?

[Gyfers in reply to Glm1]

It doesn’t sound silly at all, there’s definitely an art to it but I promise it gets easier with practice

I now do mine lying down in bed and find that’s easier. There are some dispensing aids available from the Glaucoma UK website, but I’ve just got one and keep missing my eye with it! So I might revert to doing it by hand. The dispensing aids are partly to help those with stiff hands who struggle to squeeze the bottle, but might be worth a go if you’re struggling. They’re free of charge, so no harm trying.

I promise it does get easier, with the drops I’ve had for a year, I can do them almost without thinking now.

[Gyfers]

The only way to find out if they'll make your eyes sore is to give them a go - it's really important to start taking what you're prescribed ASAP to prevent permanent damage to your vision. I think for most people, they're fine, and there's no way to know whether you'll be sensitive to that specific ingredient unless you try it.

I took Latanoprost, was fine at first but after a few weeks had constantly sore eyes. I phoned the consultant's office and was quickly and easily switched to Monopost by the consultant (the same active ingredient but single use, preservative-free). Was it just the pharmacy that refused you Monopost? I think you'd have to get your consultant to change the actual prescription, not just ask the pharmacist if they can give you Monopost when your prescription says Latanoprost. If your consultant changes it, the pharmacist should then provide it. If the pharmacist still says no, you need to find a new pharmacy, or report them!

It's true that you get through more plastic with single-use, but my feeling is that plenty of people waste far more plastic than me just by buying all their veg in plastic trays etc. I try not to waste plastic in the rest of my life, and I feel like medical needs are one place where, if plastic waste is what it takes to maintain my vision, that's acceptable.

EDITED TO ADD: I think that your consultant will expect you to at least try the Latanoprost for a while and see how you get on with it, before they consider switching you, they won't just change it 'in case' it gives you sore eyes. So get on and start with it and see how you go, hopefully it'll cause no issues at all. Best of luck!

[Glm1 in reply to Gyfers]

Thanks, it was the GP as I spoke to the pharmacist who then asked my GP who said no and I must try the ones I've been given, I did get a sense of they wouldn't prescribe the single use though due to cost etc but agree that if you can't tolerate preservatives then it's necessary, my only worry is I'm allergic to allsorts but I'll try them tonight 😬, thanks for the advice.

[Gyfers in reply to Glm1]

Good luck, yes, they'll definitely expect you to at least try them first - try not to worry, you'll discover that having Glaucoma is all a bit of trial and error and if you can, the best thing is to go with the flow, follow your doc's advice, give things time to work/settle and then speak up if they don't.

Mine took a couple of months to become sore on Latanoprost; other people might find they're sore to start with and then calm down; loooads of people have no problems at all. So hope for the best, and if that doesn't work out, then start thinking about what to do next, don't anticipate the worst before you've started! (I know that's easier said than done 😀)

[Dorset22]

Hi, I've been using Monopost for past ten days due to high eye pressures. First eye drops prescribed. No problems so far. Hope they manage to lower my eye pressures. Good luck.

[Nonswimmer]

I use latanoprost one drop each eye at 8pm daily and was led to believe it lasts for 12 hours during the night when pressures rise because we are lying down, with Celluvisc 0.5% single use phials 3td, Bleparclean wipes and doublebase gel. All may be obtained on prescripion or purchased. I have blepharitis and work very hard to keep it under control.