Glaucoma Problem

[Occupant]

I am taking Lumigan (very expensive) in both eyes to reduce my IOP. That works pretty well. I used to take it only in my left eye because it showed damage to my optic nerve. Now my doctor asked me to also take them in my right eye, but I never had a high IOP in that eye. Does that mean - I did not have a chance to ask him yet - that I have "normal tension Glaukoma" in that eye? If so, could I switch to Beta Blocker drops which apart from being cheaper might also help with my Atrial Fibrillation? I took Beta Blocker pills for many years, but gave them up because of side effects and am thinking to get back on because of the very high number of PVC's that I have.

[JohnHaganMD]

You will have to ask your Eye MD ophthalmologist whether you have normal tension glaucoma (often a difficult diagnosis to make) or not. I can't tell. Also beta blocker eye drops are not as strong, or as long lasting as lumigan and beta blockers do not work at night whereas lumigan does. If you had side effects on BB before you likely would again.  So if lumigan once/day is working well why try something new that likely will not work as well.