Question: Should glaucoma medications be avoided during pregnancy?
Answer: During pregnancy, if there is only early glaucoma damage, many doctors elect to observe the glaucoma condition without using medications, or use only one agent like a beta-blocker. The next step is often laser trabeculoplasty (SLT or ALT).
Question: Is timolol safe for use during pregnancy?
Answer: No drugs used for glaucoma have been specifically tested in pregnancy or lactation. However, timolol has a long history, and has been safely used systemically by pregnant women with hypertension.
Question: Is there any relationship between the menstrual cycle and intraocular pressure (IOP)?
Answer: There is a relationship between the menstrual cycle and IOP. It has always seemed to me that the IOP was at the highest during the fluid retention part of the cycle.
Question: How does estrogen affect IOP (intraocular pressure)?
Answer: Estrogen seems to increase aqueous outflow from the eye. The higher levels during pregnancy are associated with lower IOP than usual for a patient.
Question: Should any of the drops routinely used in a glaucoma exam be avoided in a pregnancy?
Answer: The biggest worry is in the first three months. At six months, I would not worry about the effect of the anesthetic drop, or one drop of dilating agent in each eye. However, the optic nerve and macula can be seen without dilating the pupil, so if you're worried, this may not be necessary.
