Time between drops

[Wellingtonwearer]

I was diagnosed with glaucoma in April and am trying to get to grips with things - so apologies if this is a stupid question! I have just had my eye drops changed to Brinzolamide (twice a day) and Travoprost (once at night). Previously I was using Latanaprost only at night and Timolol only in the morning. I would generally use the Timolol around 8 am and the Latanaprost just before bed (usually around midnight). Now that I am taking Brinzolamide twice a day is it still ok to put the drops in at 8am and then midnight or should I be taking them exactly 12 hours apart? My consultant just said morning and night, as does the package leaflet, but I’m now wondering if I should be stricter with the timings. Any advice would be much appreciated.

[doileyqueen]

Hello, I had a similar issue and found it all stressful in the early days. I'm now a couple of years in. I now set my alarm for 7:00 for my morning and evening drops

My second evening drops I use as I get into bed. Normally about the same time.

This has worked for me, the advice of 12hrs apart is obviously for a reason and I do my best too stick to it as best I can.

I hope this helps 😊

[Wellingtonwearer in reply to doileyqueen]

Many thanks for your reply Doileyqueen. It’s all a bit daunting at the moment so I’m really glad I found this group. Your advice was very helpful.

[Rainyday2024]

Hello Wellingtonwearer, Please don’t worry that your question was “stupid”, very often it can be misleading when having to use numerous different eye drops. I am currently having to use three different types in my left eye and two different types in my (recently operated on) right eye - plus trying to fit in Thealoz dry eye drops - so I completely understand! Because of the different types for the different eyes, I have to make a list every day and then tick off when I’ve done the drops! Plus numerous alarms on my phone which are a great help in remembering the times! With regards your twice daily drops (Brinzolomide) would it help to do them at say 8 am and then 8 pm? It might be easier to remember the two “8’s”. You could the use the Travopost before bed, or even earlier, especially if you wanted to use any dry eye drops before going to sleep. I think as long as you leave a gap of at least 15 minutes between drops it will be ok. I am sure you will soon work out a routine that suits you. I hope this has helped - please feel free to ask any more questions, no matter how small or “trivial” you think they may sound - we all need to help each other! Regards, Gill

[Rainyday2024]

Hi again Wellingtonwearer! Having just re-read my previous, rather long reply, I wanted to say that the 15 minute or so “gap” between eye drops was for DIFFERENT drops, eg your evening doses - hope I didn’t confuse you! x

[Wellingtonwearer in reply to Rainyday2024]

Hi Rainyday2024. Thank you so much for your very helpful reply. You didn’t confuse me re the 15 minute gap between drops! I’ll set my alarm for 7 am and 7 pm for the Brinzolamide and then take the Travoprost just before I go to bed. Reading your reply, I’m grateful I’ve only got to deal with 2 different lots each day!

[haraba]

The question regarding how exact should the 12 hour interval should be is a common question. Regarding my own Brinzolamide twice a day dosage. 1 consultant said a "within 2 hour window" of the 12 hour interval either side is fine

Another consultant said 15 min window either side of the 12 hour interval is essential for IOP control. (Quite pedantic and disapproving if the patient did not do so)

The company who make a brand of brinzolamide said it was not possible to measure the ocular bioavailability of brinzolamide in man by standard methods. There is no information available regarding the effect of timing of dose on efficacy. Therefore, a treatment decision has to be made by the treating doctor "on a case-by-case basis after careful evaluation of the associated benefits and risks".

Therefore, I have not yet come across any evidence supporting the advice for a strict adherence of the 12 hour dosage to within 15 minutes. If compliance is aided by alarms and alerts, then that is fair enough. Overall, each patient comes to their own conclusion on how strict to be after discussion with the ophthalmologist, whose advice they are happy with.

[Wellingtonwearer in reply to haraba]

Many thanks haraba. I’ll aim for my doses to be 12 hours apart but won’t stress if occasionally there’s less than a 2 hour difference.

[HMThai in reply to haraba]

"1 consultant said a "within 2 hour window" of the 12 hour interval either side is fine"...... Best advice!!.....My routine fits in here!.... and little earlier or later.!Good Morning from Thailand!

[Wellingtonwearer in reply to HMThai]

Thanks HMThai - I’m going to follow that advice too. It’s lovely that this group has members from so many different countries.

[HMThai in reply to Wellingtonwearer]

Good morning and please don't forget to do 'Puntual occlusion 'correctly every time to prevent medication travelling down into the sinuses and the bloodstream,I know it is particular but very important for long term!(I have written several times here in detaiI about this subject, also look up on YouTube,I have been using volume reducing 'Nano Dropper' for many years which fits on top of thr bottle!A clinical fact is that only 20% of the volume of eye medication is needed to reduce the IOP (Intra Ocular pressure)... Sometimes my eye drop is very tiny so I squeeze twice which is still 60% less and the medication goes a long way !nanodropper.com/