ocular hypertension

[krissy165]

My father has Ocular Hypertension. He went to see about it to late...He uses Brinzolamide 1% and DuoTrav, travoprost(0.004%) and timolol(0.5%) eye drops. His right eye has a vision of 75% and his left at a decreasing 30%.It seems as if the drops are not keeping his remaining vision.This I believe will turn into Glaucoma since his vision is still decreasing. PLEASE,will there be anything to help my father keep his vision the way it is now?Or even better if possible.? He is 67 years old and I love him very much and I refuse to believe that their is no better treatments for this deacease. There must be laser surgery that will last more than 2 years. Our medicines are so well advanced,yet not for the eyes.Why? The eyes are so important.Its to see.I need my father to see.He had such perfect vision.I want it back for him.                                     Please respond...krisie

[Joan M Pernoud, MD]

Dear Krissy,

If your father needs to be on those medications, he has glaucoma. By definition, ocular hypertension is increased eye pressure WITHOUT visual loss. If the vision loss is from glaucoma and it is progressing, then more aggressive treatment should be pursued.
Although "normal" pressure is usually under 22 (which varies by about 5 points through the day) there are some people who need their eye pressure to be even lower due to the fragility of their optic nerves.

If he were my patient, I would do a serial tonometry to see how high his pressure gets through a time period...usually every 2 hours it is checked.

I would check his blood pressure as some people have low blood pressure and the perfusion of blood/oxygen to the eye is poor and it progresses with visual loss like glaucoma. I would encourage him to eat healthy and exercise every day. If his blood pressure is under 110/70, he needs to get it up (eat salty foods).

Laser procedures can be good but 50% of them no longer work after 5 years. Filtering surgical procedures are indicated sometimes as well.

I hope your Dad is seeing an eye MD ophthalmologist. For some reason some state legislators have allowed non-MD practitioners to "prescribe" glaucoma drops and patients don't know that they are not being treated by an MD.

Another thought...ask if your Dad has any other eye condition as this is the age when cataracts and macular degeneration can develop.

[KellyComfort]

listen to berrywoo - good advice

[berrywoo]

If your father is suffering from field defects the ocular hypertension has more than likely turned into glaucoma. He should be under the care of a glaucoma specialist. You can find one at www.aao.org.
Currently, for priimary open angle glaucoma, there is no cure. Also, once field defects occur it normally signifies optic nerve damage which is irreversible at this time. However, there are treatments out that may help your father preserve what vision he has left. Again, get in contact w/ an ophthalmologist who specializes in glaucoma as s/he will be best equiped to deal with your father's care. Take care.