Was just diagnosed with glaucoma, need support!

Posted by evw100 @ew100, Jun 8, 2019

I’ll be 79 in a couple of months and my ophthalmologist just diagnosed my eyes “Primary open-angle glaucoma, bilateral, mild stage”. My eye pressures are borderline high, 22.5 left eye and 21 right eye. Since my dad was blind of glaucoma, the doctor wants me to start using eye drops on my left eye only, so he can compare the result of the drops. After using Travatan Z (free sample bottle from his office) for one month, my left eye pressure went up to 23! He switched me to Latanoprost (Xalatan) with the same direction and recheck one month in July.

I was diagnosed with myopic degeneration or degenerative myopia 9 years ago, I also have bad cataracts. I’m praying that Latanoprost drops will bring my left eye pressure down from 23, so the doctor does not recommend laser or surgery as the next step!!! I don’t heal well; I have very weak immune system. I have Medicare, HMO insurance plan.

I would appreciate so much if you would share any of your experiences of your glaucoma treatment journey and the different types of eye drops that you used!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Eye Conditions Support Group.

@riflemanz64

My eyes feel terrible on lumigan, red, dry, I feel like i didn't sleep, so I called the Dr. to see if i can get a different drop.

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I've been taking Lumigan drops in both eyes for many years. Since it is a once a day drop, I just take it at bedtime and it doesn't bother me overnight.

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My eyes hurt all day on this lumigan.

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@rwinney

Hi Deborah @deborahfrick123, I'm Rachel. Welcome to Connect. I've been following along and just want to chime in that your friend is absolutely correct. Call your Drs office and clarify your concerns. It's your right as a patient to understand completely, and their job to oblige. You are also entitled to office notes from your visit which you may want for your records or to take to a 2nd opinion visit. I've attached a small statement that may ease your mind a bit while you are trying to figure things out, plus a link to learn more. I'm no Dr and neither is Google so its important to do your research, speak with your Dr again, and advocate for yourself, which you are clearly doing by joining Connect and learning as much as possible. I wish you the best of luck.
Rachel
https://www.glaucoma.org/gleams/high-eye-pressure-and-glaucoma.php#:~:text=Normal%20eye%20pressure%20ranges%20from,alone%20does%20not%20cause%20glaucoma.

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Hi Everyone, this is just an update on my eye concerns. I called my ophthalmologist office and asked the office receptionist to please have the doctor review my photos of my eyes and pressure measurement to make sure I don't have glaucoma. She said I would have to make another appointment. I said I don't want to with the Corona Virus and I was there on Friday and this is Tuesday. She set up an appointment and said the doctor would call me that night at 4:30pm. He did not. I canceled the appt the next day. The Doctor called on the weekend, I missed the call. On my voice mail, he said "You had concerns about your eyes but didn't make your appt. Call me if you you continue to have problems. I have no idea why he can not just review my records. I will have to find another eye doctor.

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@riflemanz64

My eyes hurt all day on this lumigan.

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My Dr. Called and said stay on lumigan until my appt. with him on Oct 21.

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My eye pressure was 16 in both eyes, switched me to latanaprost and recheck in 4 weeks.

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@riflemanz64

My eye pressure was 16 in both eyes, switched me to latanaprost and recheck in 4 weeks.

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@riflemanz64 Glad to hear I've been on Latanaprest for 6months and my pressure is always within normal limits

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@lioness

@riflemanz64 Glad to hear I've been on Latanaprest for 6months and my pressure is always within normal limits

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latanaprost doesn't burn my eyes like lumigan did. I had my visual fields test done and the Dr. said it was good.

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@riflemanz64

latanaprost doesn't burn my eyes like lumigan did. I had my visual fields test done and the Dr. said it was good.

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I had my pressure checked today on Latanaprost and it was 16 in both eyes. I go back in 3 months for another check.

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@Rifleman I have had glucoma for a long time and my pressures have always been around 14-16 Dr is very pleased with it . JUst keep taking your drops. Your fine

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@deborahfrick123

I might be seeing the wrong opthmologist! My eyes are so dry, it feels like no fluid inside my eyeballs, they are blood shot, they hurt all around the sockets, feel like hot. On 9.25.20 the eye doctor said just buy over the counter drops. I asked what my pressure was and he said 22 and 21 in the other eye. I asked if I should be concerned and he said, "no", when pressure readings are at 30 then it is time to worry. Do I have glaucoma and just a bad o pthmologist? Any thoughts????

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deborahfrick123, I recently learned thiamine (B1) plays an important role in eye health such as dry eye.cataract development and macular degeneration. Thiamine as well as vitamin D requires sufficient magnesium to make them bioavailable. I encourage you to also research thiame's role in your overall health. Also look into R-Alpha Lipoic Acid benefits for glaucoma.
https://www.hindawi.com/journals/joph/2020/9539674/
https://nootropicsexpert.com/vitamin-b1-thiamine/
https://www.aaojournal.org/article/S0161-6420(00)00625-4/fulltext
https://www.krispin.com/magnes.html

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