Dollar-store glasses fill the bill

October 16, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a 78-year-old white male, 6 feet 2 inches and weigh 195 pounds. I use glasses that cost $1 to read sometimes.

I have been seen by two doctors. Both say I have glaucoma. I would like to know what the devil this is because both doctors said to use Xalatan at bedtime for the rest of my life.

DEAR READER: Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve in the eye(s) that results in diminished vision, leading to blindness. The light-sensitive optic nerve connects the retina to the brain, transmitting visual information.
[Read more...]

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Was eye-drop med to blame?

July 9, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I am a female who used Timoptic eye drops for glaucoma about 20 years ago. The beta blocker caused me many side effects, most of which went away when I discontinued the medicine. However, I still have shortness of breath and difficult urination. Is there anything that can be done to relieve these side effects?

DEAR READER: Even today, Timoptic is contraindicated for patients with a history of chronic bronchitis, emphysema, bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and a number of cardiac conditions. I cannot tie in your shortness of breath 20 years following usage, but I wonder whether you had an existing [Read more...]

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Timolol Does Not Cause Glaucoma

April 3, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
In my local newspaper you stated “Timolol can cause depression, glaucoma, cold hands and feet, cardiac arrhythmias and nightmares.”

Several years ago my doctor diagnosed me with glaucoma and prescribed Timolol to control the pressure.

Please tell me that this statement was a misprint or a mistake.

DEAR READER:
I made a mistake for which I apologize. Thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Timolol is a glaucoma medication used to reduce intraocular pressure. It can cause depression, cold hands and feet, cardiac arrhythmias and nightmares, but is rarely related to eye problems. However, it can be associated with glaucomatous cupping which is the formation of an ocular disk depression seen in some cases of glaucoma.

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Ask Questions To Get Answers About Glaucoma

March 24, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Last year during my yearly eye examination, my doctor asked me if I had poked my eye with a stick (which I hadn’t) because I had a line in my eye which was a first sign of glaucoma. He also noted that I had some pigment on both of my lenses.

Could you tell me if there is any treatment for this condition? My doctor didn’t tell me if anything could be done. Should I get a second opinion?

DEAR READER:
Let me start by saying that if you don’t ask questions, your doctor can’t answer them. If there were something you didn’t understand or simply wanted to know more about, you should have stated that. Doctors aren’t mind readers. Unless the patient says otherwise, the physician assumes the information has been understood. I have said time and again that people who take active roles in their health will usually get the best care. [Read more...]

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Daily Column

February 6, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
I have an advanced case of glaucoma with only partial vision in my left eye which causes annoying difficulty in reading. I came across a delightful after-dinner drink that claims to reduce stroke damage by 80%. It is two cups of black coffee, a spoonful of sugar and two ounces of Irish whiskey chilled with ice cubes.

In investigating, I realized glaucoma was sort of like a stroke of the eyes so I decided to test the drink. It tasted delightful and better still, within minutes my partial vision cleared and I was able to read again. A few weeks later my vision worsened so I drank another glass and my vision cleared.

I have since tried altering the drink a bit. I have eliminated the sugar and reduced the coffee to only one cup (but left the instant coffee at one heaping tablespoon). I only drink it when my vision starts to get foggy or I feel uneasy about my eyes and my vision clears. [Read more...]

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