Glaucoma is an eye condition in which high pressure in the eyes hurts the nerves in the eyes.
If left untreated, you could lose sight or even go blind.
Glaucoma can harm the eyes, but effective therapies can help lower eye pressure and prevent further damage.
Your doctor may prescribe eye medications, laser therapy, or eye surgery.
Glaucoma is usually treated with eye drops, which are less expensive than laser treatment and surgery.
They also work and don’t pose too many risks for most people.
If you have Glaucoma, you might use one or more eye drops to help lower the pressure in your eyes.
Continue reading to learn about the safest Glaucoma eye drops.
How do eye drops treat Glaucoma?
Glaucoma eye drops need a doctor’s prescription to work. They help lower pressure inside the eye.
Each type of eye drop does this differently.
For example, Prostaglandin helps drain fluid out of the eye. It’s one of the safest Glaucoma eye drops and must only be used once daily.
These eye drops usually don’t have many side effects.
Other classes of prescription Glaucoma eye drops include:
- Beta-blockers: These lower the amount of fluid being made in the eyes
- Alpha agonists: These reduce the amount of fluid being made in the eyes and help more fluid flow out of the eyes
- Rho-kinase inhibitors: also lower the amount of fluid in the eyes and helps the fluid flow out of the eyes
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: These lower the amount of fluid that’s made inside the eyes
- Cholinergic agonists: These help fluid drain out of the eyes
How do I find the safest eye drops for my Glaucoma?
Your eye doctor will determine the most effective and safest eye drops for you.
They can check your medical history, current medicines, and needs to create the best treatment plan
All eye drops available for Glaucoma are considered safe and effective.
Most doctors often start with prostaglandins to treat it.
But it is important to adhere to their prescription and go for follow-up appointments to ensure the treatment that the treatment works.
Popular Glaucoma eyedrops
Your doctor may talk about a few different Glaucoma eye drop brands. Some eye drops even contain a combination of two different types of medicines.
It is essential to know that even though these medicines are the safest Glaucoma eye drops, they may have side effects in some people.
Check with your doctor before using any of these eye drops.
Here are some of the most popularly prescribed Glaucoma eye drops.
Latanoprost
One of the most widely recommended eye drops.
It is a prostaglandin eye drop. These eye drops are usually used once a day in the evening.
Latanoprost can have side effects, such as headaches, eyelash growth, and blurry vision.
In some people, it can change the color of the eyes or the skin around it.
Bimatoprost
Bimatoprost is also a prostglandin. It is also highly effective and one of the safest Glaucoma eye drops.
Bimatoprost, commonly used to treat Glaucoma, is also available as a cosmetic product for promoting eyelash growth.
The cosmetic product is marketed under the name Latisse.
However, it’s essential to know the difference between Latisse and Careprost, a medication containing Bimatoprost as the active salt.
Even though they are essentially the same, they have been approved for different purposes.
Comparing Careprost vs Latisse can help you make an informed decision about which one to use.
Most side effects of these eye drops are similar to Latanoprost; however, it can also cause darkening of the iris.
Other Prostglandins eye drops for glaucomas are Travoprost, Tafluprost, and Latanoprostene bunod.
Timolol
Timolol is a beta blocker eye drop often used to reduce eye fluid.
Some other safest Glaucoma eye drops with Timolol are Betimol and Istalol.
Betoptic S (Betaxolol) and Betagan (Levobunolol) are two other beta blocker eye drops that can be used to treat Glaucoma.
Most of the time, these eye drops are used once or twice a day.
There are a few side effects of Timolol, such as,
- Crusty eyelashes
- Low heart rate or blood pressure
- Trouble breathing or exercising
- Dizziness
- Headache
Brimonidine
The most widely used alpha agonist eye drop is Brimonidine and Apraclonidine.
These eye drops are typically taken three times each day.
There are some side effects that Brimonidine users may experience, such as,
- Low blood pressure
- Headache
- Dryness in the mouth and nose
- Fatigue or drowsiness
- The feeling of something foreign in the eye
- Blurred vision
- Presence of small white spots on the inside of eyelids
Netarsudil
Netarsudil is a rho kinase inhibitor.
It is the only medicine in this class that is currently available.
Doctors recommend you use it once a day. Some side effects of these eyes drop for Glaucoma are,
- Bloodshot eyes
- Pain while applying the drops
- Redness in the eyes
- White or discolored spots on the cornea
Dorzolamide
Dorzolamide is a prescription medication and a well-known inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase.
These eye drops should be taken three times each day.
A few side effects of Dorzolamide are dry eyes, a metallic/bitter taste after dosing, and blurry vision.
Dorzolamide/Timolol
Cosopt (dorzolamide/timolol) is an example of a combination eye drop for Glaucoma.
Combination eye drops contain a mixture of two medicines from different groups.
Cosopt contains both a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor and a beta blocker.
Other combinations are available such as Netarsudil/Latanoprost and Brinzolamide/Brimonidine.
Takeaway
Glaucoma patients frequently and effectively use eye drops that require a prescription to reduce eye pressure.
They cannot cure the illness but keep it from worsening.
Prostaglandins, beta-blockers, and alpha agonists are a few of the safest Glaucoma eye drops.
These eye drops can cause side effects, such as discomfort, inflammation, and swelling.
Contacting a healthcare expert to find the best Glaucoma treatment is critical.
The post Safest Glaucoma Eye Drops: A Guide appeared first on UrbanMatter.
