Treating Glaucoma In Thailand

[Shido]

After a year-and-a-half away from Thailand, I'm in the States getting ready to make the final jump to retirement in Chiang Mai when, wouldn't you know, the optometrist tells me I'm on the verge of getting glaucoma. So I study up on glaucoma and discover that I can likely stall the disease, since I caught it early, but that it can't be cured. So if I really do develop glaucoma, I'll be taking medication for the rest of my days. (I'm sixty-seven.)

Has anyone had experience with managing glaucoma in Thailand? (Quality of care, cost and availability of medications, etc.)

As you might guess, this has got me a little agitated, since glaucoma can cause blindness.

Thanks.

-- Shido

[Thanyaburi Mac]

Got ya beat by a couple of years, and I was identified with glaucoma at 43, and taking eyedrops since then.

Been back in Thailand since '89 and still under treatment. Have changed the mix of eyedrops a number of times but pretty stable for the most part.

Not to worry, all the normal and many new glaucoma drugs are readily available in Thailand pretty much where ever you live. Just hook up with a glaucoma specialist at one of the major hospitals and you'll be fine.

Mac, in Bangkok area

[lopburi3]

I have open angle glaucoma and have been taking various medications to keep pressure down. Am currently using two medication and monthly (if only used for month - if used until empty would be about 30% less) cost is 885 baht at local pharmacy.

Travatan 2.5ml 40 microns per ml 720 baht (once a day)

Noyolol 5ml 0.50% 165 baht (twice a day)

[JAS21]

I don't have glaucoma but my mother did. Several years ago I was told that my eye pressure was at the upper limit and I was strongly advised to use Latanoprost (Xalatan 0.005%).

Pressures are considerably lower now..of course I have frequent 'field of vision' tests and so far ok. I understand caught early it can be controlled.

[lopburi3]

Also easily available is Xalacom (combo of lantanoprost) but for me did not work as well. A new combo but only available directly to doctors is DuoTrav (travoprost/timolol) which works well for me but is not available on general market yet which is a single dose of what I currently take.

As an aside the visual field test only costs 600 baht at the best eye place in Bangkok so not something to worry about.

Believe the most important thing is not to stop taking medication - as you can not feel it people may suspect it is an expense they can avoid. My father went blind (in his 80's) because of that thinking.

[Shido]

Wow, you folks are all super-helpful. Very reassuring. Thanks so much.

I am especially encouraged by that 885 baht/month medication cost, as the number quoted me here in the States was $100 monthly.

Is 885 baht/month roughly about the amount most people spend for their medication?

Although, as I said, I haven't yet been diagnosed with glaucoma and am still on the edge, I expect that the glaucoma I will or could have is the open-angle type since my vision is still unaffected and the problem seems to be coming on slowly. I'll go in for another exam in five or six months.

I'm also curious as to what, if any, side effects people may be experiencing from their medications. I'm not taking any other medications, so no conflict anticipated.

Thanks.

Shido

[ronz28]

I'm in the states but am controlling eye pressure to about 14 using a generic of Cosopt called Dorzolamide HCL-Timolol Maleate Ophthalmic Solution 22.3 mg/6.8 mg per pl made by HiTech Pharmacal (one drop in each eye morning and evening.

and same dosage of Alphagan P (brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution) 0.1%

I have also had a laser treatment to bring down the pressure as my high was close to 30 and the drops were only bringing pressure down to about 20-22.

Blue cross blue shield pays for most of this and negotiates/gets huge price reductions with doctors and pharmacies. Costs me $65 every three months as a copay on Alphagan P and no copay on the generic. Insurance covered all but a $30 copay on the laser treatment. Prices without insurance are generally ridiculous here. However, Walmart pharmacy has best prices on a lot of meds here... they charge me $10 for 3 months of my generic cholesterol pill and insurance pays $8 of that so I pay $2 for the 90 day supply.

[lopburi3]

Wow, you folks are all super-helpful. Very reassuring. Thanks so much.

I am especially encouraged by that 885 baht/month medication cost, as the number quoted me here in the States was $100 monthly.

Is 885 baht/month roughly about the amount most people spend for their medication?

Although, as I said, I haven't yet been diagnosed with glaucoma and am still on the edge, I expect that the glaucoma I will or could have is the open-angle type since my vision is still unaffected and the problem seems to be coming on slowly. I'll go in for another exam in five or six months.

I'm also curious as to what, if any, side effects people may be experiencing from their medications. I'm not taking any other medications, so no conflict anticipated.

Thanks.

Shido

I expect this is a normal or high normal price (although if from major hospital would be higher) - as am taking two medications and believe most would only be taking one. Each month supply could be used for about six weeks (but they advise one month use because of possibility of contamination) - also most (all?) require air conditioned/refrigerator storage in Thailand.