High Eye Pressure and Glaucoma
Raising Awareness About Lowering Eye Pressure
Glaucoma affects over 2 million Americans, but half don’t know they have it. We’re committed to helping protect people’s sight by spreading the word about glaucoma. Listen to our radio news announcements.
This video requires a Flash player. If you don't have the latest version, you can download the player free of charge.
High eye pressure (also known as high intraocular pressure or high IOP) can put you at risk for glaucoma. When pressure in the eye is high, it can hurt the optic nerve. You can't usually feel high eye pressure. And there often are no symptoms at first. Since damage to your sight can't be fixed, it is important to have regular eye exams—especially if you are at risk. The good news is that high eye pressure can be treated. By using eyedrops as your doctor instructs, you may be able to reduce the risk of vision loss.
High eye pressure
High eye pressure occurs when drainage channels in the eye clog. This increases pressure in the eye. High eye pressure usually doesn't hurt. But that doesn't mean that it isn't damaging your sight. When the optic nerve is damaged you have glaucoma.
The good news is that high eye pressure can be treated with XALATAN. Just 1 drop in each affected eye every evening can help control your eye pressure and may reduce the risk of vision loss. Using XALATAN as your doctor prescribes can be an easy way to take control of your eye health.
Glaucoma
There are many types of glaucoma. But open-angle glaucoma is the most common type. Open-angle glaucoma is linked to increased pressure inside the eye. Studies suggest that lowering eye pressure may slow the risk of more damage to the eye. XALATAN lowers eye pressure, which is a risk factor for glaucoma.
Watch this video to see how glaucoma affects your eyes.
This video requires a Flash player. If you don't have the latest version, you can download the player free of charge.
How XALATAN Works
Indication
XALATAN is for the treatment of high eye pressure/intraocular pressure (IOP) in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Important Safety Information
Like all medicines, XALATAN can have side effects. These side effects are usually mild and tolerable and may include blurred vision, burning and stinging, eye redness, the feeling of something in the eye, eye itching, increased pigmentation (darkening) of eye color, or irritation of the clear front surface of the eye.
XALATAN may slowly cause darkening of the eye color due to increased brown color, darkening of the eyelid and eyelashes, and increased growth and thickness of eyelashes. Color changes can increase as long as XALATAN is administered and eye color changes are likely to be permanent.
The recommended dosage is one drop (1.5 µg) in the affected eye(s) once daily in the evening. If one dose is missed, treatment should continue with the next dose as normal.
There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of multiple-dose containers of topical ophthalmic products.
The product information provided in this site is intended only for residents of the United States. The products discussed herein may have different product labeling in different countries.
The health information contained herein is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace discussions with a health care provider. All decisions regarding patient care must be made with a health care provider, considering the unique characteristics of the patient.
Pfizer is a licensee of the TRUSTe Privacy Program.© 2009 Pfizer Inc. All rights reserved.
XLU00691 D