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Elevated eye pressure

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price6209
price6209

I've had an eye pressure reading between 24-26 now for 9 years. A couple times it went down to 20. 9 years ago the optometrist I was seeing did the usual eye exam and after checking them that year said, "humm" let me think about this. 5 minutes later he came back and said I'm ok. The next year I went to someone else and he said I had a slight elevated eye pressure in both eyes, but the other tests showed absolutely no optic damage whatsoever and my vision is very good. Over the next 3 years it never changed and he told me he would watch it closely, and if it started to rise he would start prescribing the drops. It never changed and he said it's always exactly the same, could be I was born with this eye pressure and he wasn't worried one bit, but will continue to watch it. I then started going to a local optometrist and after the exam he also said I have slightly elevated eye pressure in both eyes. The first year he wasn't concerned, the second year he said maybe we should start on eye drops, but before we do, he will keep an eye on the pressure. He had me go in every 6 months for a year and a half then said - "I'm not worried about this at all because your optic nerve is excellent, but I'll keep a close watch on it and if things do start to change we'll start on the drops" He also added that since I have high blood pressure, elevated eye pressure and high blood pressure sometimes go hand in hand. (blood pressure isn't sky high, but a little elevated, plus I'm about 45 pounds overweight). In fact, I put this weight on 9 years ago, same exact time as when they started telling me my eye pressure was a little elevated. I've decided to see an ophthalmologist, if he does say it's time for eye drops, maybe even before then. They've all told me how good my eyes and optic nerve is, just that the eye pressure is a little elevated and never changes. If I do need to go on drops, so be it, but I read horrible things about heart damage, side effects, etc. I do have a heart murmur and know NOT to let them prescribe a beta blocker. Any help/suggestions/comments/advice from any of you would be much appreciated. Thank you!

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Alcantara
    Alcantara price6209

    Posted

    That is about the same with me.     My first eye test in 1990 revealed the same.    Kept me under observation for 7 years without drops.   Then went on drops, but now, 20 years later, still no optic nerve damage.     I am now almost 74, and put drops in both AM and PM, but can still see OK and still no optic nerve damage!    I take Lutein supplemenst twice a day (orally), that is supposed to be good for eyes, also eat plenty of leafy green vegetables and  blueberries that are also supposed to help.      Blood pressure is very normal, usually 114/64.    Pressures still wander up and down, sometimes as low as 16, occaisonally reaching 28 or even 30!    
    • price6209
      price6209 Alcantara

      Posted

      "Thank you" Alcantara! I'm staying on top of this and the second they say it's time for the drops I'll be making a beeline to the ophthalmologist. So far the two optometrists just scratch their heads and think it's my normal pressure. Before I let anyone start prescribing drops though I want to get with an ophthalmologist. I'm so relived there are others like me. My blood pressure usually runs 140-145 over 78-89. I wrote down your supplement as I may try that, and I eat lots of green vegetables and some blueberries. Have you had any side effects with your eye drops? I've heard Travatan  and one other are good drops. Thank you again. I'll be 70 this coming April

  • famous37001
    famous37001 price6209

    Posted

    I don’t know the specific medical diagnosis for glaucoma only that optic nerve damage is a pathway to vision loss. I certainly hope you will see an opthalmologist who will give you a field test among other things not just look at your optic nerve. There are several eye drops that are not betablockers.  I wish you well. Marion 
    • Alcantara
      Alcantara famous37001

      Posted

      My field tests are still perfect, even after all these years.    I am checked every six months.   They have changed the drops several times over the years, but at the moment, am on Azopt and Lumigan (preservative free) but don't know if they are Beta Blockers!  

    • price6209
      price6209 famous37001

      Posted

      Thank you Marion! The optometrist I"m now seeing is a specialist in  glaucoma and has run a battery of glaucoma tests on me. The last glaucoma test result was better than the one before. Personally, even though I have good vision I know it's only a matter of time (and soon) that I need to be on drops - as a preventative.

    • price6209
      price6209 Alcantara

      Posted

      I've heard good things about Lumigan and Azopt (I'm pretty sure they are not beta blockers - Timinol (misspelled) is a beta blocker. A doctor friend of our takes Travatan and Lumigan, and has for many years without any problems. Have you ever had any bad side effects with any of the ones you take? I guess like with any medicine there "could" be side effects.

  • Alcantara
    Alcantara price6209

    Posted

    When I was on Timoptol (Timolol) I got a dreadful cough and was getting short of breath.  Had X-rays/ECG/blood tests that showed nothing.     Was taken off Timolol and improved greatly.   Then I was put on it again several years later and the same thing hapenned.   Was taken off it three months ago, and now just on Azopt and Lumigan, and again improving, but very slowly.     Don't get out of breath any more, but maybe that is because two years ago, I stopped drinking alcohol (I only had 3 glass of white wine per night, six nights a week), but no beer or spirits in over 20 years.       That caused me to go from 11 1/2 stone to 9 1/2 stone and maybe that is why I don't get breathless any more!       Shortly after going on eydrops in 1997, the skin on the top of my legs from knees upwards began to feel sore and chapped, but looked normal.    Specialist said it was Keratosis Pilaris and was incurable, but was also self-limiting and would get neither worse nor better.    I personally blame it on the eyedrops, but it does vary between almost gone, and quite noticeable, but have had it so long, it doesn't really bother me much, as it is never really severe, and looks perfectly normal.     Apart from that I feel quite normal and at the age of almost 74, my insides feel excellent, and I am very flixible, with no joint pain or anything like that.    Go to sleep without trouble, and wake up between 0600 and 0700 feeling fit and well.    Just the cough that bothers me, but I am hoping that will clear up again now I am off the Timoptol.     I don't cough all the time, just isolated bouts of a minute or so every few hours, usually after eating.           .   

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