My 2 cents here as one who has glaucoma ....
Diagnosed as a glaucoma suspect some 20 years ago. Was on Xalatan eye drops but I was not a regualr user of this Xalatan (as a suspect only mah! Ha). Told by my doctor that I have glaucoma and not a suspect anymore a few years ago.
My lay-person's view is as below. For glaucoma, they check these 3 things among others,
* field vision (see if there is any area in your vision which you can see, excluding the blind spot)
* internal eye ball pressure,
* retina-optic nerve dip
For the 3rd one, mine is a lot deeper than normal. First 2 are within normal levels.
Cannot cure glaucoma, only maintain it. They do have laser treatment but that will not cure glaucoma.
I am now on Xalatan (once at night) and Alphagan (twice during day). Pressure below 15. Just because one's presure level is below the high level, it does not mean glaucoma is within control. Better to keep it as low as possible rather than sitting just below the high level.
Costs are RM70-100 per bottle. Each bottle can last for about a month.
Glaucoma checks 1-3 times per year. Cost = a few hundreds per viist.
Cheerio.
Aha.. This thread getting active with more sufferer coming in. After seeing your result, mine really horrible
.. Been spending hundreds on every visit (RM50 for consultation, RM5 registration and diff test diff charges wth the retina optic dip (OCT?) been the most expensive at RM140. I'm getting RM80 for Travatan or Xalatan at THONEH. and for this new drug - COSOPT at RM90..haizz.. Lumigen I think ~ RM85 if I still can recall...