Posted , 5 users are following.
Hello. Wondering if anyone, after cataract procedure and using prescribed eyedrops for stipulated 4 weeks, developed raised pressure in eyes? if so, did it go away after discontinuation of drops? Thankyou.
1 like, 17 replies
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RonAKA Binki
Posted
My eye pressure was elevated after the surgery, but went away over time.
Binki RonAKA
Posted
Thanks, yes, I'm hoping mine will, having stopped them a week ago!
RonAKA Binki
Edited
I went back and checked my eye drop schedule post surgery. The surgeon I had offers two options for eye drops. One used name brand Vigamox (antibiotic) and Durezol (steroid) and has a reduced number and duration of drops used. The other option used generic drops and I recall about double the number of drops applied. Surgeons seem to be all over the map on what they prescribe and how long. I opted for the name brand drops with the reduced number and frequency. Apparently the steroid drops can elevate intraocular eye pressure and the longer you use them the worse it can be.
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In my case I used the Vigamox antibiotic four times a day for 7 days. The Durezol steroid drops were once a day for three weeks. You get more than that in a bottle and I had read somewhere that some surgeons say you should take them until the bottle is done. I did a bit of research on that and came to the conclusion that less was better, and I threw them both away after my scheduled drops ended. There were reports of doing damage to the eye if they are taken too long.
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My brother who is in another province and with a different surgeon got a quite different eye drop prescription. It may have been similar to my surgeon's more drop option that I did not take. In any case my brother was prescribed Vigamox antibiotic 4 times a day for 7 days, same as me. But instead of the Durazol once a day he was prescribed generic prednisone forte four times a day for 3 weeks. This seems like significantly more steroid treatment. He was also prescribed Nevanac which is a NSAID to reduce inflammation, at three drops a day for 6 weeks. Those I did not use.
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In any case it would seem that steroids are the potential bad actor with respect to increasing intraocular pressure. You may want to ask your surgeon if they can be tapered off, or if it is best to continue taking them, with the expectation that pressure will improve once they are stopped.
Spring1951 RonAKA
Posted
I am getting prednisone 4 times a day (need to find out how long) and NO Antibiotic drops. I asked the doctor about it and she said an antibiotic shot was given during surgery and they did not prescribe the antibiotic drops after surgery.
RonAKA Spring1951
Posted
You could ask the surgeon if you could take Durazol once a day instead of 4 times with the generic prednisone. Some prescribe the generic as I believe the Durazol may be fairly expensive in the US. It was an extra cost here, and I recall the bottle of Durazol and bottle of Vigamox were about $50 at Costco Pharmacy.
Spring1951 RonAKA
Posted
My doctor has decided not to responded to any email or telephone questions for almost a week so I will have to ask her the day after surgery when I see her for the post operative appointment My HMO has a 48 hour time limit for responding to patients so I am clueless as to why no response right before the surgery with a question left unanswered.
It sounds like a possible good idea since only once per day. One question is does it sting more than the other since I am sensitive to stinging.
RonAKA Spring1951
Posted
Eye drops are even more controversial than blue light filtering. I would suggest leaving the drops decision to the surgeon. You also may not like the price. While drops are about $20 a bottle in Canada, they may be $200+ in the US.
Binki RonAKA
Posted
Interesting. I'm in UK. had Betnesol first time round for 4 weeks, a year ago, no problems at all. Second eye 6 weeks ago was given Maxitrol and Maxidex, for 4 weeks, have raised eye pressure. Hoping it goes away once it's out of the system.
RonAKA Binki
Edited
On a quick google it seems Betnesol is a steroid with claims not to increase eye pressure. Maxitrol is an antibiotic. Maidex is a steroid.
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If there is one thing consistent about eye drops after cataract surgery, it is that every surgeon seems to have a different way of approaching it...
Spring1951 Binki
Posted
How do you know when you have raised eye pressure other than a doctor's diagnosis. What are the symptoms?
billy111 Spring1951
Posted
Spring
Cataract surgeons, even those who work in the same group, have different preferences when it comes to steroid and antibiotic drops. Different brands, different prescribing schedule, etc. There is no one right or wrong way. Sometimes they do sting but that is normal. Some cataract surgeons actually place the medications in your eye at the time of surgery. Most insurance plans don't cover that.
Spring1951 billy111
Posted
I believe I will be given an antibiotic shot and then no antibiotic drops as a result. I had heard this before in a book I had read by a patient.
Binki Spring1951
Edited
It can only be detected in an eye test, which I had as standard followup after the cataract op.
RonAKA Spring1951
Edited
The standard cataract surgery process is to examine the eye 24 hours after surgery, where the eye pressure is measured. Another exam should be done at 3 weeks where eye pressure should be checked again, and then a final exam at 6 weeks where you should get an eye refraction for eyglasses. In Alberta that is at least what our healthcare system pays for.
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If the eye pressure stays elevated then you are into the issues associated with glaucoma.
Spring1951 RonAKA
Edited
Thanks for that info. I am going to add an appt. in at 3 weeks as they did not put that on the schedule so I can check the eye pressure.
RonAKA Spring1951
Edited
I would go to an optometrist, independent of the surgeon, for the 3 week check. That way you will get a second opinion on how well the surgery went. Sometimes the surgeon or their clinic can be a little guarded about that.