cosopt preservative free

[KBIOW]

hello all,

I have been on cosopt preservative free eye drops now since November…. previously I was on all sorts of drops after having a laser iridotomy, an enlargement and subsequently now have high eye pressures which the cosopt eye drops are controlling. With the eye drop my pressures at the latest reading at the opticians yesterday were 15 and 16.

I have a couple of questions to see if anyone can help.

Question 1

Over the last week I have started to have slight tingling sensation in my feet and my hands, which comes and goes. I had this far worse previously when I was taking the acetazolamide tablets. I’m not sure this is even related to the eye drops and find it strange it’s started now having been on cosopt drops since last March… and the preservative free version since November.I have had my blood pressure checked and all seems fine.

Question 2

Has anyone after a period of time come off of their eye drops due to the pressure rectifying itself….? I would love to come off the drops as I hate taking medication….

I just wondered as my pressures with the drops seems to be around 16, what would they likely be now without the eye drops or is that not possible to answer?

thank you

Katy

[Peg99]

Hello KBIOW

I'm sorry, but I can't help at all on what might be causing the tingling sensation you are feeling. As you say, it's unlikely to be the drops after this length of time but I really don't know.

As to your question about stopping your drops now that your eye pressures are OK I'm pretty sure that the answer is a big NO. The pressures are only OK because of the drops. As far as I know, there is no way of knowing how much the drops are lowering the eye pressures for you or whether your pressures have lowered by themselves. However, it would be too risky to stop them to find out just what pressure your un-medicated eyes would be (even though you didn't suggest that).

I don't think that any of us like taking medications, or at least would prefer not to, but we just aren't prepared to risk our eyesight by not taking meds. All I can suggest is that you speak to your consultant about this and get the benefit of his experience.

Good luck and best wishes.

Peg

[whitedog]

I've been on Cosopt for years - it stings when I first put a drop in but have never had the tingling you describe. I've only had that when taking acetazolamide tablets.

I have had an Ahmed valve shunt put in and am also on Monopost drops. The three combined have kept my pressures quite stable for years. On one occasion, the consultant suggested we try dropping Cosopt as I mentioned the stinging and my pressures had dropped quite low but, on the next visit, they'd shot up again so I went straight back on it.

It's really about accepting that these drops become an essential part of your daily routine.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello. The tingling sensation is a rare occurrence and is listed on the patient information leaflet that comes with the eye drops. Speak to your consultant about what you are experiencing. He may be able to suggest an alternative drop form you.

Please do not stop taking the drops. They are controlling your eye pressure. Stopping them increases the risk greatly of it rising and causing more damage. So I strongly recommend that you do not do this.