Drops just before SLT

[Vich81]

I had SLT in both eyes last week and forgot just how sick the drops before it make me feel! I’ve had it before a few times but it’s like 2+ years apart so I guess I forget how bad I felt at the time. Pilocarpine I think it is that’s given and I know how they work but I’m wondering if I’m just having an unusual reaction. In the 40 mins after getting the drops that I was sitting waiting for the SLT, my head felt like it was going to burst (ok bit of an exaggeration but it hurt!) and I just felt sick. The intense feeling kind of wore off but as soon as I got home I was a little sick. Anyone else get like that?

[Laura7777]

Hello Vich81.

I've not had SLT but have had Pilocarpine on a number of occasions. Each time, the headaches were ferocious, like you said, the treble vision which followed - and last for about 6 hours - was amusing at first but did result in me being sick if I moved around.

The various consultants who have used Pilocarpine on me have all been apologetic in advance and I get the impression that my reaction has been normal. This makes me feel very glad that we have other drops available for glaucoma and we're not reluant on Pilocarpine as the poor folk were not so many years ago.

One thought that does occur to me is whether you have such a strong reaction to Pilo because of the other drugs used in connection with the SLT procedure - eg the anaesthetic drop. Just a thought.

Hope you are now fully recovered and good luck for the future.

Best Wishes

[Vich81 in reply to Laura7777]

I never actually thought of that and could make sense as when I was pregnant (18 years ago now!), pilocarpine was deemed the safest for me at the time. Apart from weird vision for a few hours after taking it, I don’t remember feeling really ill

[morgan54]

I was diagnosed NTG recently. Preveously I tried Latanoprost and Timolol. I had very bad reaction to both of them ( Shortness of breath, Chest pain, Palpitation, Throat tightening etc ). As a result, I'm scared to try any other eye drops.

Consultant recommended " SLT "for me but I realised they will give you IOP lowering eye drop before/after procedure. I'm stressed about it. Would it absolutely necessary to have these eye drops before/after SLT?

[Scarletbox in reply to morgan54]

As far as I'm aware, yes. These drops are given before the procedure so your eye pressure doesn't spike after SLT. Mention your bad reactions to the Latanaprost & Timolol and get reassurance if you are going to go ahead with SLT. There are many different types of eye drops to treat different eye conditions. Good luck!

[SpanishFlea]

The dreaded Pilocarpine! I had to have it every 15 minutes for 2 hours following my episode of Acute Closed Angle Glaucoma last December. It made me so nauseous as I sat in the waiting room that they had to find me somewhere to lie down. The consultant's reaction: "Good, that shows it's working" and my pressures dropped like a stone. Worry not, your suffering is not unique!

[Scarletbox]

Hi, I had SLT done to both eyes 5 months ago, although, it was spaced 2 weeks apart to treat superior quadrants and inferior quadrants separately to give me the best chance of treatment being effective. I was warned on the first appointment that the eye drops would give me a "brow ache", well it was more than than, pretty nasty actually. Took painkillers immediately after treatment. On the second appointment at a different hospital, the Optometrist gave me paracetamol half hour before eye drops and no nasty headache after. I didn't feel nauseous on either appointment. I guess some people have stronger side effects to the eye drops than others.

Hope your SLT gives you the desired results. 🤞

[Rickyxsara]

Been using pilocarpine for 7 years 4 times a day in both eyes but no side effects. Speak to your consultant as there are various other drops available.