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beta blocker drops instead of lumigan after cataract surgery?

When I had the cataract in my other eye removed last year I was prescribed Lumigan drops (along with other drops) after surgery. I have green eyes and everything I read worried me about my eye changing color which fortunately didn't happen.  I am scheduled to have the other eye done next month and after researching it appears the Timolol could be used instead and I would not have to be worried about eye color. I do not have asthma etc and in fact sometimes I have to take oral beta blocker for an occasional heart problem so I have no issues with beta blockers. elise
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Avatar universal
If you don't have glaucoma at the time of cataract surgery, you should not need these medicines.

After cataract surgery, common medications are a steroid and an antibiotic, often an NSAID as well, but not antiglaucoma medications unless a patient had already been using it for pre-existing glaucoma.
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177275 tn?1511755244
The above is correct. Glaucoma medication are not part of a standard cataract operation. Their are some exceptions such has high intraocular pressure immediately after surgery. This might occur from incomplete remove of visco-elastics from the eye or a complicated operation.

In any case the change of eye color occurs in less than 1 % of people and only after years on the medication. So you will not have the problem.  Just FYI blue, grey, green and dark brown eyes are not affected. The potential occurs in hazel eyes where there is some brown and a lighter color light blue or green. Over years the brown can become more prominent so that they look brown rather than hazel. Very very rare.

JCH MD
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Avatar universal
thank you for your response. I do have a high reading in the eye in question altho technically I do not have glaucoma so Dr wants to prevent it going higher with inflammation. Thanks for reassuring me about the Lumigan, would the Timolol be ok to use instead just to relieve my stress about it?
Helpful - 0
177275 tn?1511755244
Only your surgeon can answer that question. Beta blockers can cause problems in people with asthma, slow pulse rates or history of beta blocker intolerance

JCHMD
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177275 tn?1511755244
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