Stop Glaucoma (medication) eye drops

Please listen to your doctor and see him/her as often as your insurance will allow. Glaucoma can progress very slowly or by leaps and bounds. When I moved from my home of 49 years into a retirement community, I had to find all new doctors. I had to wait a few extra months for an appointment with a opthamologist, and my bad eye worsened in the process. Because a Timolol prescription caused my cornea to turn cherry-red, my new doctor prescribed a preservative-free brand called Iyuzeh, which is much more expensive. Fortunately, a kind pharmacist at my new CVS helped me and my doctor fill out a form to get Iyuzeh by mail at a reduced cost. I have cut my final cost still further by using each single-dose applicator twice instead of once. The vial caps that come with each dose of Iyuzeh cannot be put back on. However, you can replace each of those applicator caps as you remove it with one that comes from a single-use vial of Refresh or Systane, which are OTC brands of artificial tears.
You may want to use the artificial tears midway between the doses of your prescription to prevent dry eyes from adding to your problems.
My last doctor also had me applying for ten minutes a day a pellet-filled, “Thermalon” eye mask that I heat for 20 seconds in the microwave. This may help by stimulating the tiny glands at the base of the eyelashes. I bought the mask at amazon.com. Do arm exercises or listen to a book or a podcast while you are “in the dark.”
The good news, according to my new opthamologist, is that glaucoma usually affects just one eye. With regular doctor visits, tests, and eyedrops, you can slow its progress and be proactive should it begin to show up in the other eye.
I wish you the best of health.

How do you protective of your eyes?

I am 68 and have had glaucoma for around 5 years.
In first year I was given one lot of laser treatment and told that’s all I will have.
Because of more deterioration around 5 months ago I am now on Latanoprost + Timolol in one drop and
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine in the other.
Only after happening upon this website do I realize that these awful thick large red patches around the eyes and itchy burning sensation is probably a drug reaction.
The local Dr prescribed more drops for eye infection and it’s done nothing.
I’m wondering what my options are as I was told don’t miss one dose as they’re very important.
Feedback would be appreciated.

I am 68 and have had glaucoma for around 5 years.
In first year I was given one lot of laser treatment and told that’s all I will have.
Because of more deterioration around 5 months ago I am now on Latanoprost + Timolol in one drop and
Brinzolamide + Brimonidine in the other.
Only after happening upon this website do I realize that these awful thick large red patches around the eyes and itchy burning sensation is probably a drug reaction.
The local Dr prescribed more drops for eye infection and it’s done nothing.
I’m wondering what my options are as I was told don’t miss one dose as they’re very important.
Feedback would be appreciated.

@christystratton
Hi Christy
I'm now 80 and have been fighting glaucoma for over 40 years. I've had multiple laser treatments and am currently on 3 different eye drops: pilocarpine, dorzolamide, and Rockland. Using preservative free drops may help reduce irritation. Have you seen an ophthalmologist or gone to an eye research center such as Bascom Palmer or Wills to get checked out. They can also recommend a local ophthalmologist who has had advanced training on glaucoma treatment. I'd be happy to try and answer any questions you may have.
Don

Find a neuro eye doctor who treats eye diseases. Doc will check your optic nerve health.