Eye drops before/after SLT procedure

[morgan54]

Hi all

I was recently diagnosed glaucoma in one eye. Previously I was prescribed Timolol and Latanoprost on separate occasions, I had a bad reactions to both of them. Latanoprost was particularly bad ( shortness of breath, chest pain, tightness of throat), ended up calling ambulance.

I'm now scared to try any other eye drops. Consultant suggested SLT, so I have done my own homework and learnt before/after SLT procedure they use eye drop ( apraclonidine ?) Now I'm panicking a bit. Has anyone had any experience with this eye drop?

[KieranGlaucomaUK Administrator]

Hi Morgan54. Sorry to hear about the reactions that you have experienced with latanoprost and timolol. It's possible that the preservative in those drops was the culprit, but it could be a unique reaction to those drops. It's not uncommon for people to experience side effects from some of the drops that they use for glaucoma.

They do instil a numbing eye drop before SLT. I would suggest making them aware before they administer the drop that you have had reactions to your glaucoma eye drops in the past. It would also be worth having this discussion with your consultant. It would not be possible to know what your individual reaction would be to the anaesthetic as everyone is different, and even though you have had reactions to your glaucoma drops in the past, this does not mean you will react the same with the anaesthetic drop.