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Drugs and Side Effects

Eyedrops for glaucoma - Dangers of eyedrops

Although hailed as a means of delaying the onset of glaucoma, latanoprost (Xalatan) has been shown to cause changes to pigmented tissue. Its continual use may gradually change the colour of your iris by increasing the amount of brown pigment. It also turns your eyelid a darker colour. This can be particularly distressing if you only use the drops in one eye, especially as any colour change may be permanent.

Latanoprost has also begun to rival Rogaine as an unauthorised treatment for baldness after it was found that the drug increases the length and thickness of the eyelashes. Other side-effects include macular oedema, or swelling of the macula, and greater sensitivity to light as well as redness, swelling and discomfort of the eyes.

The most common side-effects of brimonidine tartrate are burning, stinging, blurring, itching and an allergic response. Occasionally, the drug will also cause corneal erosion and staining, and fatigue or drowsiness. Problems may also be caused by the preservative used in brimonidine tartrate as it can be absorbed by soft contact lenses.

Eyedrops for glaucoma - My eyes have been diagnosed with narrow-angle, low-pressure chronic glaucoma. Initially, I was prescribed Xalatan (latanoprost) eyedrops once a day.

Look out for preservatives in glaucoma eyedrops - Re ‘Glaucoma’ (WDDTY vol 15 no 12), the preservative in many eyedrops is benzalkonium, which contains a benzene-related chemical that is well document...

Eyedrops for glaucoma - Other effects - Eyedrops are often considered a benign treatment, and their side-effects on the rest of the body are vastly underappreciated.

Some reactions to glaucoma eyedrops . .. . - WDDTY vol 14 no 4 arrived a few days ago and, wonderful surprise, some great help about glaucoma drops! I have been taking for two years a prescriptio...

Contact dermatitis - Q I would like your advice for the son of a friend of mine. James, 22, had eczema as a child. His passion in life is motorcycles and, thus, he comes i...

Ulcers likely with new contact lens - People who use extended wear contact lenses increase the risk of developing corneal ulcers tenfold. ...

Contact lens sight scare - Contact lens cases of the future may carry a warning: "This product could cause blindness." ...

Glaucoma and arimidex - Q Some years ago, I was diagnosed with glaucoma and prescribed Teoptic eyedrops. For a few years, I was sent for eye tests, and my eye pressures were...

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