Should a blind person continue using glaucoma drops?

Posted by eddie2012 @eddie2012, Feb 7 10:55am

If someone (mentally disabled) has already lost their vision to glaucoma, can they stop using glaucoma drops? Some of these drops have preservatives that apparently can cause painful abrasions or damage to the cornea. Is there any other benefit to glaucoma drops if the optic nerve has already sustained irreversible damage? Does open angle glaucoma cause severe headaches perhaps, that are avoided by continuing drops? Just trying to get some clarity, since everything I've read only explain that glaucoma drops need to be taken to *prevent* damage to the optic nerve and subsequent blindness! I have found no info about the need for glaucoma treatment if blindness has already occurred.

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Lori, Volunteer Mentor | @loribmt | Feb 9 8:05am

Hi @eddie2012 That’s a really good question about glaucoma eye drops. The goal of the drops is to help prevent the loss of eye site due to damage to the optic nerve from pressure of glaucoma. If a patient is already blind with irreversible damage it doesn’t seem to make much sense to continue with the treatment.
I did find some articles that discuss the different types of glaucoma. You mentioned wide angle glaucoma. It’s not known for causing headaches. Narrow angle glaucoma can cause severe headaches and it that case it looks like the glaucoma meds for that condition can help keep the pressure regulated in the eye.
https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma-headache/

https://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/glaucoma-headache/#:~:text=Narrow%2Dangle%20glaucoma%20can%20cause,light%2C%20nausea%2C%20and%20vomiting.

The best person for answers would be the prescribing opthamologist to see if it’s necessary to continue, and also see if there’s an association with the headaches. I hope you find some answers. Have you checked with the doctor?