Glaucoma/ Medical Marijuana

[sally987]

Does 'medical' marijuana help NTG?  As much as, say, Timolol?  My mom has been taking Timolol for 20 years for high tension glaucoma.   I believe it is what makes her hair fall out.  She is not bald or anything, but her scalp is quite visible w/ hair missing all over.  She would never want marijuana of any kind, I am asking this question for myself.  My maternal grandmother had glaucoma, my mom has it, and now I have just recently been diagnosed w/ NTG.

If I am put on meds, I am sad at the thought of losing my hair.

But I would look forward to having a little brownie every day and NOT losing my hair~

You guys are great!  Thanks, as always, for your help, advice, and opinions.

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

Timolol is a beta blocker that is very inexpensive and works well for glaucoma BUT I use it last in my choice of the 4 times of glaucoma drops because of the potential for major side effects. It cannot be used in people with asthma or reactive airway disease, a history of slow heart rate (bradycardia) and can cause many problems like chronic cough, severe loss of energy, chronic nasal congestion (seems like sinus problem that won't go away), very cold extremeties, etc. It also lowers the blood pressure which can be good or bad.

You need to read the package insert and be alert for side effects. The best drug in my opinion to start treatment for glaucoma is generic latanoprost. One drap per day and rarely ever any serious systemic side effects.

Glaucoma drops don't cause infection.

JCH MD

[Zisker]

I would appreciate if you can tell me more about Timolol because I have glaucoma and that is the treatment that I am on a few months gone I had to go to the emergency because  it turned up that I had an infection in the eyes and I had a difficult  time keeping  them open I was given some other eye drope to take for a month which did cleared it up but I want to know what cause the infection and am I taking a good eye medication .
On my Dad side of the family they have Glaucoma and most of the ended up blind.
Another thing my eyes used to run a lot before but  now it is next to nothing now does that have to do with the Timolol that I an taking?
The full name is Brinzolamide Timolo

[soumyapattarakkal]

Does smoking tobacco aggravate glaucoma?
Soumya

[soumyapattarakkal]

Does smoking marijuana help reduce eye pressure and treatment of glaucoma?

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

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[sally987]

Wow.  You have been so helpful.  You just don't know.  Take care~

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

If the new MD needs your records he/she will send for them. Likely they are not critical.

JCH MD

[sally987]

Thank you, Dr. Hagan.

You have made my day.  I am sitting here drinking my 2nd cup of coffee.  If I have any hair loss in future decades, I will know that it is hereditary.  And thicker lashes certainly would be a bonus.

I am sure my doctor would take no for an answer; however, my thinking now is to go elsewhere anyway.   His reaction to my not wanting premiums was "You will be missing the chance of a lifetime to change your vision".  On an earlier visit, he had me watching a Crystalens video featuring Henry Winkler, the Fonz.  I thought Henry Winkler was his patient, but he said oh, no.  Next, he was pushing the Alcon Toric for me...but I only have astigmatism of 1.50 and 1.00.  He also does not believe in blended vision and had a big negative reaction when I mentioned it.

I have a referral from friends to a cataract surgeon in a different practice, who did a glaucoma fellowship and has been working in my city for the past 9 years- with a good reputation.  I am thinking of making an appointment w/ him.

In your opinion, should I get all my old records and move them to the new doc or just let the new doc start from scratch since he will need to do all the tests anyway?

Thx!

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

Hair loss is not a problem with glaucoma drops and in fact one group of drops (prostaglandin antilogs-Xalatan, Lumigan, Travitan-Z) actually grown hair. About 70% of people on these medications exhibit thicker longer lashes. The makers of Lumigan recently started to market the very same drops under the name Latisse for eyelash growth. I understand that they also looked into using it as a treatment for baldness but its too expensive to cover a large area like the scalp.

I am very disappointed at postings that indicate people feel their surgeons are pressuring them to upgrade to a multifocal IOL. Like Nancy Reagan "Just say 'No'" If the surgeon won't take "no" for an answer go elsewhere.

I would not consider a monofocal IOL or a toric IOL that was not aspheric (tecnis, Alcon, B&L).

JCH MD

[sally987]

Thanks, Doc.

Have you noticed that certain glaucoma drops cause your patients to lose hair?  And other drops do not?

In my mom's case, perhaps her hair is thinning simply because she is getting older, and I am being paranoid about the drops.  (p.s. I would much rather lose my hair than my eyesight!)  

I am thinking about getting a second opinion from a glaucoma/cataract specialist before deciding on what type of cataract IOL to get.  I have thin corneas (and I think large pupils), my current eye doctor is giving me a hard sell for Crystaline and ReStor.  Was VERY disappointed at my appt. last week when I told him I was interested in a standard aspheric.  The only option he mentioned for me after that was the alcon toric for an extra $1100 per eye.  I insisted on getting a new glasses prescription (so I could have a little more time to decide).  He thought I should not wait too long.  My second eye does not quite qualify for insurance, but that prescription seems to be changing fast.  Age 54.

You have been very helpful, thank you so much for dedicating your time to this forum~

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

Coffee or soda intake does not cause glaucoma. Drink what you like

Best prevention is annual exam by Eye MD.

Very earliest of research indicates good diet: Fruit veggies, fiber, fish berries nuts plus low fat low high calorie carbos (think pastry) may raise IOP.  Very very early on this researchk
JCH MD

[sally987]

Thanks, Dr. Hagan.  I imagine I will start w/ drops when the time comes.  I have had Raynaud's since I can remember (well, probably starting around age 13).  I do not smoke.  Would it help to limit coffee to one cup per day.  I now drink 2 a day.  I try to do 30 minutes exercise on elliptical/or walking per day.  I have normal on the low side bp, 110/65.  I would like to do everything I can to help keep glaucoma away, but I realize it may be impossible to fight genetics.  Please let me know if you have any other suggestions~

Have a great day!

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

Medical marijuana has been a bust as far as treating glaucoma. It is more injurious to the lungs than regular tobacco.

It is not needed to treat any type of glaucoma.

Treatment is drops/laser/surgery

JCH MD