eylamdol Dorzolamide Timolol impossible to get out of dispensing bottle - only have problem with this brand. What can I do?

[24Arbutus]

I’ve been using these drops for about 15 years. The pharmacist regularly provides different brands. Sometimes they have difficulty obtaining the drops. This is the first time I have been given eylamdol brand and I’m finding it really difficult to drop into my eyes. I’ve read the leaflet and practiced repeatedly. The drops are slow to come out of the bottle and I keep missing my eye as can’t hold still or feel anything when drop finally lands. I’m finding this quite worrying.

[Piggy-in-the-middle]

is this the sort with a really complicated mechanism on the top of the bottle, some sort of valve? It took all my husband’s strength to get anything out! Squirted everywhere so didn’t last the month. I resolved to refuse them if I ever had them again. Perhaps go back to pharmacy? They’ll probably need a new prescription to issue anything but should be able to get it working. Hope you’re ok.

[24Arbutus in reply to Piggy-in-the-middle]

Yes that’s the one. I had to get my husband to help me and he struggled. He says it’s due to the viscosity of the medication. It doesn’t drop off the nozzle therefore difficult to apply without help. He suggested storing the bottle upside down. I will request a new prescription - thanks for your quick reply.

[PeterRabbit62]

I don't use those eye drops but I do have problems opening other bottles of eye drops. One mine Ganfort which is Timolol and Brimprost together has a plastic seal over the top to break before opening the bottle, gosh that is difficult to break. My other 2 Brinzolomide and Brimonodine all also difficult to get into, sometimes I have to use a piece of nail scissors to force the top off. So I know how you feel. Best wishes.

[24Arbutus in reply to PeterRabbit62]

Yes I have had a similar experience with some brands - though always succeeded eventually. Like you I have had to use scissors on some bottles. With the eyeamol its not getting the top off that's the problem but actually getting the drops out of the dispenser! This worries me because i'm not sure how hit and miss I can be before I damage my eyesight. How many days can one go without drops before affecting the pressures - I wonder? Best wishes

[PeterRabbit62 in reply to 24Arbutus]

Have problems with getting drops out too, I have to squeeze really hard with some bottles.

[Trish_GlaucomaUK Partner]

Hello. We have a dispensing aid on our website specifically for the blister type bottles. Our dispensing aids are free. here is the link if you wish to order one.

glaucoma.uk/product/santen-...

[24Arbutus in reply to Trish_GlaucomaUK]

Thank you for letting me know. I have just ordered one.

[24Arbutus]

👍

[24Arbutus in reply to 24Arbutus]

I’ve now received the eye drop dispensing aid and it has transformed my experience. I’m so pleased that you told me about it and grateful to have been sent one. It drops it easily and accurately in to my eyes and I don’t have any problems with it at all. Thank you!

[whitedog]

I feel your pain. I was recently given a bottle of Evolve dry eye drops by the hospital pharmacy instead of Hylo Forte and they came in this kind of Pure Flow bottle.

Most of it went down my cheek and I ended up throwing the bottle away in a rage!

If I was ever prescribed glaucoma drops in a bottle like this I'd refuse them.

[Beecalmed]

Yes! It’s a problem with PF Eydelto too. Hard for others to understand unless they’ve experienced it.

The issue is the thickness of the drop itself. I’m not sure an applicator to squeeze or position will help that much in this instance. The issue is how long the drop takes to arrive and how long the drop takes to drop. I’ve counted 6 seconds from the moment the drop finally appears at the nozzle opening to the point it releases and drops. It’s hard not to blink or relax your eye and the drop to hit the lashes. Having very long lashes due to Lantanoprost or Bimatoprost also adds to the difficulty.🤪

So my solution is to avoid putting this one in the fridge. It doesn’t need to be stored in a fridge and is slightly quicker flow, if it’s not been in fridge. The fridge makes it thicker.

Next I actually get the drop appearing on the nossle and THEN move it in position over the eye. Sometimes it drops early but it’s so damn thick you can move it slowly over the eye and then you wait less time with eye open head back before it finally releases and drops.

You need to really aim with this one into a lower pocket to avoid the lashes. Unlike other drops it won’t run through lashes if it hits, it just sits like a blob on top of lashes.

I have sort of got the hang of it after 3 yrs on it, but I do have misses and so my dr allows me a spare in hand so I don’t run out.

Really the manufacturer needs to find a way to dilute the drop. It’s not the bottle design. I have another drop in same design bottle called Eyreida, this drop liquid is thin. In this one the fluid if anything runs out too fast and you’re in danger of getting two drops! 😂

I think sometimes there is a danger of assuming issues with application are just user error from often elderly patients with poor dexterity. I can assure everyone this is NOT the case with these PF drops. They are just too thick. 👍🏻

[Beecalmed in reply to Beecalmed]

I’d add that I persevere because they are the first drop that didn’t irritate my eyes and have successfully been keeping my eye pressures down low for about 3 yrs. That’s a record for me. Previously I’ve had to change drops every 6mths to a yr as they have stop working. 👍🏻

[Fudgewick]

As many of the users have painful, arthritic joints, the manufacturers need to realise that squeezing a hard bottle hurts!!!

[ANO_Health]

I am so glad I am not the only one who has troubles with some bottles! Thank you all for sharing your experiences.

[Blindbatuk]

I’ve just been prescribed the Vizidor Duo brand instead of Cosopt apparently due to supply issues with Cosopt.

The Vizidor bottle is a nightmare to get drops out of. You have to squeeze so hard and when it does eventually come out it is more than a drop and ends up on my forehead/cheek/chin/next doors dog… delete as appropriate! Absolutely ridiculous.. give me my Cosopt back please…

[24Arbutus in reply to Blindbatuk]

Please refer to my earlier post and order a free dispensing aid from Glaucoma U.K. it works so well and it’s so easy to use that I have come to prefer it whereas I was previously frustrated and despairing about getting drops out of the bottle.

[Blindbatuk]

Thanks.. done!