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Allergic reaction to Glaucoma eye drops?

Posted by katana7 @katana7, Mar 28, 2021

I recently got back on the glaucoma eye drops Tomolol, brimonodine and lumigan. I was on them before and had the laser surgery maybe 3-4 years ago. Stopped the drops. Then noticed vision problems and went to the dr in Dec2020 the Dr said that my pressures were 20 and 23 and so to go back on the drops well been using the drops since then and my eyes now cannot tolerate it extreme redness, watery eyes and serious redness under the lashes. It looks as if I’m having a allergic reaction and ever since every time I put the drops in as prescribed, serious teary eyes, extreme redness and blurry vision and sometimes stinging sensation. I’ve asked the Dr and he said let’s stop the timolol for a month and see if that’s the cause. I’m getting a little scared because my vision seems to be getting worse I will be turning 56 this year. I was diagnosed with this eye disease at 13 with a suspicious optic nerve? Also I had retinal detachment on one side and a retinal tear in the other. The detachment side has a sclera belt, so I’m really scared that I may lose my vision. Have had so much trauma... any advice or possible idea as to a possible solution?
Thanks

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Zebra | @californiazebra | Jun 6 10:59am
In reply to @eloiset "Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing..." + (show)
@eloiset

Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing very red eyes Ipain and my eyelid keeps swelling up. Unfortunately these are the only eye drops that work well enough to reduce my pressure to acceptable levels. Can anyone suggest an eye drop alternative that is safe particularly for someone who has a risk of retinal detachment. I am also taking simbrinza which seems on for my eye so far but can sometimes make me feel they but foggy. Can anyone recommend very effective natural treatment so that I can stop taking these eye drops in the long-term as well and or any effective alternative for simbrinza. Thank you

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I was told decades ago that I’m allergic to the preservatives in eye drops that cause my eyes to get red and burn. I have to use single dose refresh for dry eyes to avoid preservatives. Are the drops you’re using available in single dose applicators? More expensive that way but worth it. Best of luck.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Jun 6 12:39pm
In reply to @eloiset "Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing..." + (show)
@eloiset

Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing very red eyes Ipain and my eyelid keeps swelling up. Unfortunately these are the only eye drops that work well enough to reduce my pressure to acceptable levels. Can anyone suggest an eye drop alternative that is safe particularly for someone who has a risk of retinal detachment. I am also taking simbrinza which seems on for my eye so far but can sometimes make me feel they but foggy. Can anyone recommend very effective natural treatment so that I can stop taking these eye drops in the long-term as well and or any effective alternative for simbrinza. Thank you

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@eloiset I'm sorry to hear that you are having such problems with the drops. My friend was allergic to one ingredient in his, and the VA referred him to a specialized eye clinic, where they compounded the drops without it.
Are you being seen by a high-risk ophthalmologist? If not, I highly recommend it.
We are not doctor ms here, but as far as I know there are no natural treatments for glaucoma-and I have been studying about it for years since I was diagnosed

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Jun 6 3:22pm
In reply to @eloiset "Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing..." + (show)
@eloiset

Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing very red eyes Ipain and my eyelid keeps swelling up. Unfortunately these are the only eye drops that work well enough to reduce my pressure to acceptable levels. Can anyone suggest an eye drop alternative that is safe particularly for someone who has a risk of retinal detachment. I am also taking simbrinza which seems on for my eye so far but can sometimes make me feel they but foggy. Can anyone recommend very effective natural treatment so that I can stop taking these eye drops in the long-term as well and or any effective alternative for simbrinza. Thank you

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eloiset @eloiset
Hi
I have been fighting glaucoma for 30 years now. I am currently on 3 eye drops: Pilocarpine, Dorzolimide, and Rocklantan. I was on the preservative free version of Dorzolimide for a long time but it started to make my eyes red so I',m back on the preservative version. These drops do keep my pressure between 10-13. I did have detached retinas back in the 1980's but have not had any since. I've been on a lot of different eye drops but not the one you mentioned. I see my optimologist about every 3 months. I'd be happy to try and answer any questions?
Don

REPLY
crossette | @crossette | Jun 9 12:48pm
In reply to @eloiset "Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing..." + (show)
@eloiset

Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing very red eyes Ipain and my eyelid keeps swelling up. Unfortunately these are the only eye drops that work well enough to reduce my pressure to acceptable levels. Can anyone suggest an eye drop alternative that is safe particularly for someone who has a risk of retinal detachment. I am also taking simbrinza which seems on for my eye so far but can sometimes make me feel they but foggy. Can anyone recommend very effective natural treatment so that I can stop taking these eye drops in the long-term as well and or any effective alternative for simbrinza. Thank you

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For about 5 years I was on Latanaprost but that slowly seemed to be not lowering the pressure adequetly. My doctor retired so I had to pick another. After about 2 years he put me on Rocklatan which immediatly dropped the pressure. But that slowly stopped working too. He did the laser trab. procedure which did not seem to help.
There must have been a few months in which the pressure was too high because my right eye vision deterioted greatly, but so slowly I did not notice until it was too late.
So I switched doctors. The first visit was at 8:15 am and they immediatly checked the pressure and it was 18 in my left eye and 24 in my right! This is after putting Rocklatan in each eye just before bedtime the previous night. That is how I know it was not working any more.
He put me on Dorzo+Timol mixture drops twice a day, at breakfast and dinner, still with Rocklatan at bedtime. They do burn, even more than Rocklatan but if they work I can put up with it.
After 1 month the pressure was down to 10 and 12! This is the lowest it has been, hope it sticks.
I know several people with NORMAL pressure that still have glaucoma so this is all just a shot in the dark !!

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elisabeth007 | @elisabeth007 | Jun 19 9:18am
In reply to @eloiset "Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing..." + (show)
@eloiset

Hello a seem to be allergic to my glaucoma medication which is Ganfort. It keeps causing very red eyes Ipain and my eyelid keeps swelling up. Unfortunately these are the only eye drops that work well enough to reduce my pressure to acceptable levels. Can anyone suggest an eye drop alternative that is safe particularly for someone who has a risk of retinal detachment. I am also taking simbrinza which seems on for my eye so far but can sometimes make me feel they but foggy. Can anyone recommend very effective natural treatment so that I can stop taking these eye drops in the long-term as well and or any effective alternative for simbrinza. Thank you

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Your dr may be able to order “compounded eye drops” without irritants that are in the preservatives of many commercial eye drops.

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bobbylove88 | @bobbylove88 | Dec 12 5:45am
In reply to @katana7 "Hi! Thank you so much for the support! I really appreciate it. I’ve been getting really..." + (show)
@katana7

Hi!
Thank you so much for the support! I really appreciate it. I’ve been getting really scared that I’m losing my sight . Yes he has been checking my optic nerve. 1 dr said that I gave about 10% left and did a visual field it’s substantial loss and my pressures have gone up. He just can’t seem to understand the tearing up and constant redness .. so but I am considering a second opinion. I will consider the AREDS pills. I think at this point I’m willing to try anything. Thank you again I feel so supported.

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I have the same issues with severe dryness, redness and burning, itching etc... I noticed it earlier this year and have seen my PCP, 4 Ophthalmologists, and an allergist. Still suffering and am to see a Glaucoma specialist in January. I have no confidence that he will be able to help me. I am pretty sure that we will eliminate 1 drop at a time until we find the culprit (I'm on 4) but what if it's environmental? The allergist said I'm not allergic to anything but cats, which I never come in contact with. My vision and vision field are getting worse.
Thanks for letting me vent.

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1 reply
Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Dec 12 9:02am
In reply to @bobbylove88 "I have the same issues with severe dryness, redness and burning, itching etc... I noticed it..." + (show)
@bobbylove88

I have the same issues with severe dryness, redness and burning, itching etc... I noticed it earlier this year and have seen my PCP, 4 Ophthalmologists, and an allergist. Still suffering and am to see a Glaucoma specialist in January. I have no confidence that he will be able to help me. I am pretty sure that we will eliminate 1 drop at a time until we find the culprit (I'm on 4) but what if it's environmental? The allergist said I'm not allergic to anything but cats, which I never come in contact with. My vision and vision field are getting worse.
Thanks for letting me vent.

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Bobbylove
I know the frustration. I've been fighting glaucoma for over 30 years now and have lost a lot of vision. I've been on most of the eye drops and currently am on Pilocarpine, Dorzolomide, and Rocklatan. I don't currently have any irritation or itching, but the pilocarpine constricts my puples so I need more light to see much. Have you been to one of the national eye institutes like Bascom Palmer or Wills where they may have more suggestions? I go about every 5 years to see what is new.
Don

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scpartain | @scpartain | Dec 13 7:17am

I had an allergic reaction to the preservatives in latanoprost, which I have been using for about two years to lower eye pressure. My doctor prescribed Iyuveh, a preservative free version of latanoprost and it has helped.

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wandagoode | @wandagoode | Dec 13 10:21am

I was diagnosed with glaucoma 24 years ago. I was having allergy symptoms in both eyes with almost all the drops my opthalmologist prescribed. I spoke with a pharmacist at Medco and she said the preservative Benzalkonium chloride that was causing the irritation. I have been on preservative free eye drops for the last 12 years or so. Gone are the days of itching, crusting and scaling, and severe dry eye symptoms I was experiencing.
Benzalkonium chloride can damage the cells of the cornea and conjunctiva, cause dry eyes, and can cause trabecular meshwork degeneration. I lost a lot of vision during the early years of my disease before my drops were preservative free.

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