OPHTHALMOLOGY

Gregory Eippert, MD

Q: I have to start using eye drops for my glaucoma and I am worried about the side effects. Also, are there any other treatment options if the drops don’t work to lower my eye pressure? A: Glaucoma is an eye disease in which the optic nerve is damaged by excessive pressure in the eye known as intraocular pressure or IOP that can result in varying degrees of visual loss. Increased IOP usually occurs due to inadequate drainage of the fluid, or aqueous, from the eye. While there are a variety of options to treat glaucoma including eye drops, laser procedures, and surgery, prescription eye drops or laser procedures are offered as first choices. Eye drops act to either improve how the fluid flows from your eye or to decrease the amount of fluid your eye makes thereby lowering IOP and protecting the optic nerve. Eye drops used for glaucoma treatment are classified by their active ingredient and there are four main groups: prostaglandin analogs, beta blockers, alpha agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs). There is also a group of drops that contains a combination of drops from these four categories. Each group, while providing specific benefits, also has possible side effects which can also vary per individual. It is important to discuss with the doctor your medical history, current medical conditions, and current medications to help determine which eye drop(s) will be best for you. Based on your health needs and medications, your eye doctor may prescribe one or more types of eye drops or change your eye drops over time to reduce any side effects that you may experience, or to provide the most effective treatment. It is important for the patient to understand the purpose and goals of the treatment plan including the purpose of the eye drops, dosage, possible side effects, and target IOP. In most cases, medicines used to treat glaucoma must be continued daily for the rest of your life. Follow-up visits with your eye doc- tor will be necessary to determine if the eye drops are effective, to discuss any side effects of the eye drops, to monitor IOP, have other testing as needed, to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan, and pursue other treatment options if necessary. Although damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed, proper treatment along with regular checkups and testing can help slow or prevent further vision loss especially if caught early. Gregory Eippert, MD 9485 Mentor Ave., #110, Mentor 44060 440-255-1115 www.opivision.com