Eye drops

[Bess21]

I am on iopidine dorzolamide and monopost. Eye pressures 19 22 I want to stop iopidine has anyone else just interested if pressures will stay same. Consultant said I could stop using in left eye but not sure.

[Laura7777]

Hello Bess,

Do you have a specific reason for wanting to stop this drop?

It depends on why you have been taking the drop. eg have you only been taking it following a surgery or procedure or have you been taking it just to help with lowering eye pressure generally?

If your Consultant says you can stop taking it in one eye then he must think it is OK but I don't see how stopping a pressure lowering drop will achieve a lower pressure than you have while taking it. Whether stopping it will leave your pressure as it is or not, only stopping it will tell I suppose but it is a bit of a risk withot a very good reason.

I take Brimonidine, the same type of drop as you, and I wouldn't dream of stopping it. I have found it a very helpful drop in a cocktail of drops to keep me pressures stable at under 8 or 9.

Best Wishes, Laura

[Bess21 in reply to Laura7777]

Thankyou for reply, I was put on this 10 days after iridotomy due to pressure 29. I had just finished 9 days of steroid eye drops so think they caused pressures to go up. The drops where short term but still on them and hopping dorzolamide and monopost would keep pressures stable if stop iopidine.

[Sorshup]

Laura's has responded as I would have done. Iopodine is not usually prescribed long term, usually to limit IOP spikes after surgery . The key question relating to making a change of drops is - do you have access to regular IOP monitoring? A question for us all, really. it makes no sense to stop the drop then have a three-month delay before the next hospital check-up opportunity for measurement. And why reduce medication for your left eye, which appears to have the higher pressure?

Also, unless you have been assured that there is no glaucoma progression, I would have thought your consultant would have a much lower target IOP than those you report. I am perplexed !

[Bess21 in reply to Sorshup]

I am waiting for cataract surgery they are mild but consultant said should bring pressures down ? It was other consultant said I could stop in left eye that was 18 and right 22.

[Bess21 in reply to Sorshup]

I go opticians get pressures checked every fee weeks very good at doing it for me

[Sorshup]

Thanks for the clarification ! Especially regarding your reversal of the customary stating IOPs Rt first !

Optometrists used to be fearful of measuring IOPs out of the context of a full examination in case it was misinterpreted as a clinical decision which was not his/hers place to make. But I have never felt this to be a problem if the approrpriate notes were recorded that the patient understood, What is needed is that we should all be given a written note of target pressures (and an indication of latatude perhaps) by the consultant with a recommendation of frequency of measurement, and the optometrist provide aa written report of the pressures found. For those who are willing to spend on it, an iCare Home device brings the matter into our own hands.

[lesphoto]

I have been on iopidine the single preservative free version for a couple of years as well as Traviprost and Taptiqom at night time and fortunately the pressure has been up to now about 15-17 which my consultant is happy with I have had cataract surgery to help relieve pressures about 7years ago as well as laser treatment

[Bess21 in reply to lesphoto]

Did you have narrow angles? My iopidine is in a bottle not sure if preservative free but my others are because I have asthma

[lesphoto]

it might be well worth asking your consultant if they could prescribe the preservative free version of the iopidine which comes in single dose 24 days supply which you use once daily then discard as you have asthma the preservative might not be helping you.

[muddledme]

Hello Bess21,

Following retinal sugery my eye pressure went into the 40's the following day. Diamox helped reduce it but I felt really sick with it so just continued with Iopidine for a few weeks as instructed. The pressure was reducing but the consultant wrote in my notes that if I was worried between visits then someone would check the pressures for me at the hospital.

I was told that if the pressures rise after surgery then it is usually in the first few days, after this it tends to slowly settle. This was all very reassuring and gradually the pressures did return to almost normal. I am just finishing a 3 month course of steroid drops to preserve the Preserflo stent installed 4 years ago. I believe they give me a slight headache and I am hopeful the pressure will continue to come down when the course is complete.

Perhaps your surgeon could enable you to also get the pressures checked at the hospital between appointments?

Best wishes

[Bess21 in reply to muddledme]

Thankyou I often go opticians get pressures checked they are very good.