Preservative Free Eye Drops

[IshyCord]

Hi, just wondered if anyone could help here. I’ve been using 0.1mg Lumigan Bimatoprost drops for a while now for low-tension Glaucoma. A year or so ago I tried the preservative-free version as my eyes were getting very dry. After a few months of using the new drops I had a PVD in one of my eyes. When I checked the preservative-free drops I found they were 3 times stronger than the ones I was using. I stopped using the new drops and moved back to the old ones. I’ve also know one other person on these drops who also had a PVD.

My optician thinks this is all entirely coincidental. I’m fully aware of correlation/causation but equally would rather not take any risks with my eyesight.

My GP doesn’t seem to know much about alternatives and the eye care people I see every six months never have a specialist there.

So, just wondering if people know what sorts of options are out there. I don’t think Bimatoprost comes in 0.1 mg doses for preservative free.

Regards

[Reformer]

What's a PVD?

[IshyCord in reply to Reformer]

Sorry, it stands for Posterior Vitreous Detachment. It’s where the gel in your eye pulls away from the back of the retina. It can cause detached retinas but fortunately this didn’t happen for me. I only had it in one eye too which is why I’m worried about stronger drops in case it happens in my other eye and leads to a worse outcome. Hope that helps

[Dorset22]

Not if this is of any help but I had a PVD in one eye several years ago on holiday and then one in the other eye a couple of years later. Both random and unexpected. About 18 months ago I was diagnosed with high eye pressures and have been using Monopost drops for the past year. As I understand it, being short-sighted and getting older may be a cause of PVD.

[IshyCord in reply to Dorset22]

Thanks for the reply. Sorry to hear you had PVD in both eyes. It’s pretty scary when it happens. My optician, who’s very good, said a similar thing that it was linked more with age and being short-sighted rather than the coincidental use of different drops, albeit ones with a different strength.

[Dorset22 in reply to IshyCord]

It is scary and not much information around. There is a fb site for suffers. You are not alone.

[IshyCord in reply to Dorset22]

Thank you

[Dorset22]

sufferers

[ks1966]

sorry to hear about your experience. I use Monoprost which preservative free and it seems to be doing the job well

[IshyCord in reply to ks1966]

Thanks. I think I might have to start investigating alternatives to the drops I’m using

[Littlesnowflake]

I had a PVD occurrence in one eye several years ago when I was using regular drops for glaucoma and was seen urgently by eye casualty. I was told it is a part of ageing with short-sightedness being an additional risk factor. I was at risk of a detached retina but fortunately it was avoided.For the last 2 years I've been using preservative free drops including Lumigan (Bimatoprost) as I developed severe reactions to the regular drops. Thankfully my eyes settled down and I've had no problems with preservative free drops.

I hope this helps.

[IshyCord in reply to Littlesnowflake]

Thanks for the reply. I think I probably am being overly cautious about changing drops. I’m glad to hear you’ve had no problems since your PVD a few years ago and that you’re having no issues with the preservative free version.

[whitedog in reply to IshyCord]

Hi

I have PVD in my left eye - Weiss ring identified.

But only put glaucoma drops in my right so, in my case at least, I think it's age related.