GLAUCOMA AND PREGNANCY

[not2alone]

I AM 29 Y/O AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO START A FAMILY FOR 9 MONTHS.  I THINK MY BODY WAS JUST GETTING USED TO COMING OFF OF BIRTH CONTROL AND HOPE NOTHING ELSE IS STOPPING US FROM GETTING PREGNANT.  HOWEVER, I HAVE GLAUCOMA, HAVE HAD THE TRABECULECTOMY SURGERY, AND STILL HAVE REQUIRED EYE DROPS TO KEEP THE PRESSURE DOWN.  I STOPPED THE DROPS TWO MONTHS AGO SINCE THEY DONT KNOW WHAT THEY CAN DO TO THE UNBORN FETUS AND WHEN I WENT FOR A PRESSURE CHECK A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE PRESSURE WAS UP.  THE DOCTORS OFFICE IS NOW TELLING ME THAT IF I STAY OFF THE DROPS TO TRY AND GET PREGNANT, I WILL LOSE MORE VISION SLOWLY.  I ALREADY HAVE LOST SOME IN MY RIGHT EYE BEFORE I FOUND OUT I HAD GLAUCOMA. WHAT CAN I DO?  I WANT A FAMILY BUT I DONT WANT TO GO BLIND.  I AM VERY CONFUSED AND UPSET. I WENT THROUGH YEARS OF GOING TO THE DOCTOR AND HAVING SURGERIES, I EVEN HAD TO HAVE AN EMBOLIZATION DONE RIGHT BELOW MY EYE.  AFTER THAT THEY TOLD ME I WAS FINE TO HAVE CHILDREN.  NOW THEY TELL ME I WILL LOSE MORE VISION?  I WASNT EVEN SUPPOSED TO HAVE TO USE ANY MEDICATION AFTER THE EYE SURGERY.  DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVICE OR INFORMATION THAT COULD HELP ME?  GLAUCOMA DOESNT EVEN RUN IN MY FAMILY.

[vaishs]

hi, i totally understand ur concern, i am 28 yrs old with know case of glaucoma since 4 yrs. my  both eyes r operated for pressure control and  catract surgery. after tht i was put on  eye drops predmet and voveran.  i was also trying since 10 months now i am finally pregnant.  before conception  i had consultated my gynec. the eye drops r pediatrics doses. which  will not harm the fetus.  i am totally fine the baby is doing fine. i did the NT  scan  and  my baby  is totally normal. but yes i put the eye drops every  day and see to it tht  it is not going in my system,  my pressure has never shooted, after the surgery. and  i am doing gr8  with my pregancy. i suggest dont stop ur eye drops, control your pressure and go ahead with  ur pregnacy

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[not2alone]

Thank you again very much.  I really appreciate your help.
Kelly

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

Washington U is one of the worlds best glaucoma center. If you have something unusual you've been to the right place. There are NO medications for glaucoma that have been tested on pregnant women. Just isn't done, too much risk to infant and too risky malpractice wise.

You would need to sit down with glaucoma specialist/OB-GYN to discuss each of the 4 groups of eye drops and also SLT laser and understand the possible risks to you and fetus vs the risk of permanent damage if you don't use meds. There is no risk free course.

Needling is what I was referring to.

JCH MD

[not2alone]

Thank you for your advice.  I dont know if the procedure you are speaking of in the office is bleb needling but if it is, I have tried that once and it didnt help.  The MD said the scar tissue was "like leather".  If it is not bleb needling what is it?  I also was never told there were any medications I could use safely during pregnancy or trying to conceive.  What are they?  Also, I noticed you are in/from Missouri.  I grew up there and moved to FL 5 years ago but came up there when I first found out I had glaucoma and saw 9 different doctors of all types of eye specialties at Washington University in St. Louis and all they could say was...wow, this is rare, or why dont you go see so & so & see if he can help.  Anyway, I appreciated their time but really didnt ever get any good information except to have the trabeculectomy. (this was before I was trying to start a family)  If you have any other advice or information that could be useful, I would really appreciate it.  If not, thank you for your time and suggestions.  My doctor now was my second opinion and there are so many that I wouldnt know who to go to next. But I will keep trying to do what I need to do.  Thank you.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

The operation was apparently only partially successful as if its completely successful you don't need any drops at all.

I would suggest a second opinion with a glaucoma specialist. Therre are some of these can can do a procedure in the office to open the drainage of the trabeculectomy and lower the pressure enough to go off drops. Also you need to have your glaucoma Eye MD ophthalmologist talk to your OB MD about choice of medications. There are some that can be used with reasonable safety during pregnancy.

JCHMD