I have been on monopost drops for a couple of years with no problems. Last week at my glaucoma check up appointment, the consultant gave me dorzolamide drops to use morning and evening and to also continue with monopost drops. She would like my pressures to reduce, currently 12/14.
The dorzolamide drops really sting my eyes, is this normal or should I contact the consultant for help?
many thanks
Some eyedrops can sting at first in my experience. If this continues and causes you ongoing problems (eg they sting for a prolonged time or more soreness emerges) yes, consult the clinic for advice.
I used Dorzolomide a few years ago. At first it was ok but after 2 or 3 weeks I got sore blisters around my eyes, it was really bad. It was during the pandemic and I couldn't get an appointment and was afraid to discontinue because of eye pressures. My eyelids were so sore and blistered, I had developed an allergy to the drops. When eventually I got them changed it all slowly cleared up.
Thank you, sorry to hear they caused you such awful side effects. Did you use the single dose vials or a months supply bottle? I’m struggling with the bottle.
I had the bottle as well. Subsequently I used to insist on preservative free eye drops which came in individual phials.
I now, after having presserflo surgery in one eye and a trabulectomy surgery in my other eye, do not have to use any eye drops. Apart from moisturising ones.
I have had a lot of problems with the presserflo (it kept blocking up) and subsequent cataract operation though, and initially for a few months with the trabulectomy. But all is reasonably settled now so I am really grateful for that!
Very best wishes with your glaucoma treatment.
Hi Nala. I use Dorzolamide drops and I found they stand when I started using them, however after nearly a year on them my eyes have got used to them and they barely sting at all now.
Hi, I use Dorzolamide drops and I find that they sting for a minute. My consultant says it's because the ph of the drops is different from that of the eyes. Other than momentary stinging they don't cause me any irritation or redness.
But if you're concerned, or they are causing prolonged irritation I think it's a good idea to check with the consultant.
I hope you get on well with the drops
It stings but with me this stopped after a few weeks. Only stings now from when the drops dry out and the residue falls into the eye
Make sure that all your eye drops are preservative free. Anything with preservative irritates my eyes.
Hi Nala - I’ve had the exact same experience - about a year of Monopost and then Dorzolamide added in, and OMG the stinging from the Dorzolamide! I totally get where you’re coming from.
I already knew I don’t get on with preservatives (that’s perhaps the same with you if you’re on Monopost rather than Latanoprost?) so I was first given Eyedelto, which is preservative-free Dorzolamide, in one large bottle with a special top on it that’s supposed to keep the drops safe even without preservative. I really struggled, between the pain the drops caused, the difficulty using the bottle, the fact it always ran out early, and that you couldn’t see through the bottle so had no idea when it might run empty. All added together it was very stressful.
I got changed in the end, but the consultant said that the only other option without preservatives was Trusopt. That’s still dorzolamide, so it still stings, but it’s in single-use sachets and so much easier to administer.
It stings less than the Eyedelto version did, I don’t know if that’s because it’s easier to only get one drop in, or if my eyes are getting used to it, or what.
I had an appointment yesterday where I chatted it through with my consultant and she said I’d have to either put up with the stinging eyes, or have surgery, so suddenly I’m appreciating the eyedrops much more 
Hopefully from reading one of the other comments they might continue to sting less over time.
The good thing about them is that they don’t irritate my eyes apart from that initial stinging.
One thing I find helps a little bit is to count how long the stinging lasts. In my mind it’s a long time but actually when I count, it’s usually gone by the count of 10, which makes me realise it’s quite quick, really.
Best of luck!
Thank you for your really helpful reply. The consultant prescribed the single use version, but the chemist gave me the bottle version. I’m am really struggling with this, getting the drops in etc, so I hope to be able to get the single use drops next time as I’m wasting so much of it. I will count 5he length of sting, that a good idea.
I e been using dorzolamide drops for two years, twice a day. My morning 7 am drop doesn’t sting at all but my 7 pm one has me dancing about ( even with ocular occlusion) -
I put in Hiloforte moisture drops 10 mins. prior when I can and it helps a bit - the nippy feeling of tbe dorzolamide lasts only a mints , poss two. Worth anything to save vision!
My consultant is switched me from dorz to monoprost next month. Hoping it still does the job as my pressures now up to 14 with a trab looming on the horizon
Ing
did your consultant advise you on the timings for your drops, mine just said morning and evening. Should I be putting them in at set times?
Interesting I too have noticed the morning drop doesn’t sting hardly, but the evening drop really stings, I wonder why that is. But like you say, a small price to keep my vision.
Hi Napa, they work so well but yes sting like billy-oh. I've used them for a few years now and unfortunately it can still occasionally happen. The residue can be irritating too "mucky eyes" most mornings 🙈. I use them when I go to bed (after the Latanaprost) so usually about 10.30, then in the morning, usually about 6.30, those times suit me but I was never given set times. Good luck! X
Drug side effects pilocarpine, dorzolamide/timolol, diamox generic acetazolomide
Long term eye drop use 
Administering Monopost single eye drops
