- Q: What is childhood glaucoma and how can I prevent the disease from progressing?
A: Childhood glaucoma, also known as infantile or congenital glaucoma, is a disease of infants and is sometimes inherited. It involves a developmental abnormality of the trabecular meshwork, which is the drainage tissue of the eye. Treatment options include medications to lower intraocular pressure and/or anterior chamber angle surgery. Some patients may also need other types of glaucoma surgery. The goal of treatment is to lower the intraocular pressure to prevent permanent visual loss. It is also important to monitor the visual function and to treat any delay in the affected eye’s visual development.
- Q: I have been given a variety of eye drops in a failed attempt to control elevated eye pressure that was apparently caused by retinal vein occlusion in my left eye. I had many problems with the eye drops, including a terribly upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, heartburn and gas. My doctor changed my prescription to Xalatan and Timolol. I have noticed that the pupil in my left eye has become significantly larger than the pupil in my right eye, which is not being treated. Can Timolol cause this symptom and is it safe to continue to use it?
A: Timolol is a topical beta-blocker that acts to reduce intraocular pressure and is very commonly prescribed for the treatment of glaucoma. Timolol has not been shown to cause pupillary dilation. The size of your left pupil may be related to the prior retinal vein occlusion. Other causes of pupillary dilation include topical medications, iris neovascularization, prior intraocular surgery, and others. Your eye doctor should be able to determine the cause of your pupillary asymmetry.
- Q: Is it true that glaucoma patients cannot take medications like Actifed or Sudafed for relief of cold symptoms because they can cause a dangerous increase in eye pressure?
A: Cold medicines such as Actifed and Sudafed can cause mild pupil dilation, which can affect eye pressure. Patients with very narrow angles or untreated angle-closure should not take cold medications. Patients who have been treated for narrow-angle glaucoma or open-angle glaucoma can take cold medicines safely. Your eye care provider should be able to advise you as to the safety of this medication class in your particular case.
- Q: My husband is 36 years old and was just diagnosed with early-stage glaucoma in his left eye. There is no history in his family. Why did he develop this condition and will he be OK? He is now being treated with eye drops. Can you help me?
A: Primary open-angle glaucoma is a multifactorial disease that can affect patients in their 30s. Some patients have no family history of the disease. Glaucoma that affects only one eye may be related to other conditions such as trauma and pseudoexfoliation. Glaucoma that is detected in the early stages carries a better prognosis than glaucoma that is diagnosed at an advanced stage. Treatment involves reduction of the intraocular pressure and monitoring of the optic nerve function. With diligent treatment and follow-up, your husband should maintain vision throughout his lifetime.
