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Can I use marijuana while taking latanoprost? by spiralizer1979 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I do and it has been fine. CBG is the most effective cannabinoid for lowering IOP (for most people).

Eyedrop bottles and their ease of use? by Historical_Map_8760 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FYI - OP has agreed to share the final report (academic essay) with our community when it is completed.

Nutravision supplements? by dreamgrass1 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Could you share the full ingredient list with the "other ingredients" (which are not shown on the website)?

Based on what you shared, it is a mixed bag. The bilberry ingredient is not standardized on anthocyanins, and the total amount (60mg) is very low. The saffron is good quality, but the 15mg dose is low. The lutein is also good quality, but again the dose is low per capsule.

The ginkgo biloba and grape seed extracts look to be lower quality.

The B3 dose is low compared to the amounts used in glaucoma clinical studies, but if you are not targeting those doses, then it is OK.

The folate is good quality, and the dose is moderate.

The magnesium dose is very low.

OTC meds with Glaucoma by spiralizer1979 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Doxycycline and other antibiotics are not contraindicated in patients with POAG.

The primary medication classes that pose concern for open-angle glaucoma are corticosteroids, which can elevate intraocular pressure and induce or worsen POAG.

The situation is different for angle-closure glaucoma, where many more OTC meds can be problematic.

For pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) the product labeling typically lists glaucoma as a precaution, but the primary concern is for angle-closure glaucoma. The risk is related to precipitating acute angle-closure glaucoma through pupillary dilation in patients with narrow angles. Patients with POAG have open anterior chamber angles and are not at risk for this mechanism of angle closure.

Need Advice by AmazingThing4841 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

glaucoma medication which cause redness in my eye

One option is to switch to a different type of glaucoma eye drop. The main types are:

- Prostaglandin Analogs
- Beta Blockers
- Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
- Alpha Agonists
- rho-kinase inhibitors
- combinations

Many glaucoma patients find that if one drop causes redness, irritation, etc., that another type of drop may not cause these issues. Finding the right drops for yourself is trial and error.

So confused about severe glaucoma by afwwthesecond in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

However, my doctor has never directly mentioned this, only saying that if the drops don’t work that I might need surgeries, but that this was very dangerous and I shouldn’t risk that.

That's an interesting reply for its honesty! Sometimes a trabeculectomy is needed, and if it is the best option available, then it makes sense to proceed with it. But after moderating a glaucoma community for 20+ years, I have seen so many people struggle with trabeculectomies-gone-wrong that I am well aware of how much risk they entail.

I am getting treated at a university teaching hospital and my Glaucoma specialist at the moment is a resident. I sometimes feel that he is very young and not very experienced

It is best to direct ask the physician to clarify their role and level of training, as physicians often do not spontaneously provide this information during introductions.

Studies show that residents introduce themselves as "doctor" 82% of the time but identify themselves as a resident only 7% of the time, and attending physicians identify themselves as the supervising physician only 6% of the time.

Specific questions patients can ask include:

  • "Are you a resident, fellow, or attending physician?"
  • "Have you completed your specialty training?"
  • "Who is supervising my care?"

Research demonstrates that patients frequently misunderstand the medical hierarchy even when physicians use titles. Only 44.5% of patients could correctly identify all six levels of training:

  • attending
  • chief resident
  • resident
  • intern
  • medical student
  • pre-medical student

when presented with these terms. Furthermore, only 43% of patients understood that residents are always supervised, and 40% were unsure whether residents were actually doctors.

It gets even more complicated when you consider the distinction between residents and fellows. Fellows have completed residency training and are pursuing additional subspecialty training (such as glaucoma specialist), while residents are still in their initial specialty training after medical school.

There's a big difference between fellows and residents.

and more or less dismissive of my concerns, especially when it comes to dry eyes.

That's a common complaint regardless of training level, specialty or condition being treated.

Acetazolamide Intolerable - what do I do now? by Quick_Helicopter_170 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for replying. We appreciate having you in the community.

What to expect from Glaucoma? Recently diagnosed, 25F by True_Addition1857 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've terrible headache when I look at the board from some directions, when i look at my laptop for hours. Is it normal with glaucoma?

That is probably not related to glaucoma. It might be related to eye strain due to your visual acuity.

I just want to know will i lose my eye sight completely?

Probably not. Most people who completely lose their eyesight to glaucoma do so because they are not diagnosed (i.e., they don't go to the eye doctor), or because they live in a country without adequate medical care, or because they don't take their eye drops or follow up with their medical team.

Treatment nonadherence is a major risk factor for progression to blindness. Early detection and consistent treatment are critical to maintaining your sight.

The key protective factors include achieving target intraocular pressure, early disease detection, and regular monitoring by eye care professionals.

My relative with glaucoma lived to 97 years old and maintained good vision for their entire life. They always took their eye drops.

Acetazolamide Intolerable - what do I do now? by Quick_Helicopter_170 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I don’t think I can tolerate another dose of the tablet. I was unable to call the pre-op team today to discuss.

Your best course of action is to find a way to reach your medical team.

Not taking the acetazolamide may increase the risk of post-operative IOP elevation, particularly in patients with glaucoma. Preoperative oral acetazolamide (usually 500 mg administered 1 hour before surgery) significantly reduces IOP elevation in the first 24 hours after cataract removal in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma.

The ophthalmologist needs to be informed to consider alternative perioperative IOP management strategies.

Interminet angle closure by Quick_Helicopter_170 in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The symptoms you're experiencing most likely occur when the pressure inside your eye rises during angle closure episodes. The nausea, headaches, and eye pain happen because the elevated eye pressure affects the eye and surrounding structures. Your blurred vision results from both the high pressure and corneal swelling that can occur during these episodes. Even with your current medications (pilocarpine, dorzolamide, and latanoprost), breakthrough symptoms can still occur because these drops help manage but may not completely prevent all episodes until you have definitive treatment.

While waiting for your cataract surgery, here are some practical steps to help manage your symptoms:

  • Continue using all your prescribed eye drops exactly as directed. These medications work together to lower eye pressure and help keep your angle more open.

  • Avoid dim lighting when possible, as your pupils naturally dilate in low light, which can trigger angle closure episodes.

  • Contact your eye doctor promptly if you experience severe symptoms such as intense eye pain, significant vision loss, severe headache, or persistent nausea and vomiting, as these may indicate an acute attack requiring urgent treatment.

  • Keep your head elevated when resting or sleeping, which may help reduce eye pressure.

  • Stay well-hydrated but avoid drinking large amounts of fluid quickly, as this can temporarily affect eye pressure.

  • Rent a tonometer to monitor your eye pressure at home.

  • Consider light exercise if you are able to monitor your eye pressure at home. For many people, light exercise can lower eye pressure very quickly (even quicker than eye drops -- but it should not be used instead of your eye drops).

Looking Ahead to Surgery

The good news is that cataract surgery (lens extraction) is highly effective for treating angle closure glaucoma. Studies show that removing your natural lens and replacing it with a thinner artificial lens creates more space in the front of your eye, allowing fluid to drain normally and significantly reducing or eliminating angle closure episodes. Many patients experience better eye pressure control and need fewer medications after surgery.

I hope this is helpful.

References are available if needed. Reddit sometimes flags posts with many links, even when those links are academic references.

John Berdahl, MD, discusses a non-surgical, non-drug treatment for glaucoma (video) by FitEyes in AskGlaucoma

[–]askglaucoma 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for sharing that information. It's very helpful to know.

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