Eye pressure is commonly referred to as intraocular pressure or IOP. Eye pressure exists because eyes produce a clear fluid to keep them nourished and healthy. When this clear fluid circulates throughout the eyes and normally drains through the eyes' "drainage pipes," IOP is considered to be "normal."
It is healthy for eyes to have eye pressure within a certain safe range.
In patients with elevated IOP, this fluid may not drain properly. The eyes' "drainage pipes" may become backed up like a clogged drain, causing increased pressure inside the eyes. Increased eye pressure, or elevated IOP, is the only treatable risk factor for patients with open-angle glaucoma.
Open-angle glaucoma
There are different types of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma, which is the most common. A less common type of open-angle glaucoma is normal-pressure glaucoma, also known as low-tension glaucoma. It is a type of glaucoma in which a person's IOP is considered "normal," but there is noticeable damage to the optic nerve consistent with glaucoma and visual field loss may have occurred. Multiple studies show that permanent damage to your optic nerve can occur before you notice any difference in your vision.
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This safety information is taken from Lumigan's site:
LUMIGAN® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% has been reported to cause changes to pigmented tissues. The most frequently reported changes have been increased pigmentation of the iris, periorbital tissue (eyelid) and eyelashes, and growth of eyelashes. Pigmentation is expected to increase as long as LUMIGAN® is administered. After discontinuation of LUMIGAN® pigmentation of the iris is likely to be permanent while pigmentation of the periorbital tissue and eyelash changes have been reported to be reversible in some patients. Patients who receive treatment should be informed of the possibility of increased pigmentation. The effects of increased pigmentation beyond 5 years are not known.
PRECAUTIONS
LUMIGAN® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% may gradually increase the pigmentation of the iris. The eye color change is due to increased melanin content in the stromal melanocytes of the iris rather than to an increase in the number of melanocytes. This change may not be noticeable for several months to years (see WARNINGS). Typically, the brown pigmentation around the pupil spreads concentrically towards the periphery of the iris and the entire iris or parts of the iris become more brownish. Neither nevi nor freckles of the iris appear to be affected by treatment. While treatment with LUMIGAN® can be continued in patients who develop noticeably increased iris pigmentation, these patients should be examined regularly.
Eyelid skin darkening, which may be reversible upon discontinuation of the treatment has been reported in association with the use of LUMIGAN®.
Contact lenses should be removed prior to instillation of LUMIGAN® and may be reinserted 15 minutes following its administration (see PRECAUTIONS, Information for Patients).
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In clinical trials, the most frequent events associated with the use of LUMIGAN® (bimatoprost ophthalmic solution) 0.03% occurring in approximately 15% to 45% of patients, in descending order of incidence, included conjunctival hyperemia, growth of eyelashes, and ocular pruritus. Approximately 3% of patients discontinued therapy due to conjunctival hyperemia.
Ocular adverse events occurring in approximately 3 to 10% of patients, in descending order of incidence, included ocular dryness, visual disturbance, ocular burning, foreign body sensation, eye pain, pigmentation of the periocular skin, blepharitis, cataract, superficial punctate keratitis, eyelid erythema, ocular irritation, and eyelash darkening.
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Lumigan is effective: once-a-day Lumigan can be as effective as even two medications.
In addition, Lumigan is convenient to use:
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You only have one eye drop medication to take once a day
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Lumigan does not require refrigeration
Treatment cost may also be lower with Lumigan that with multiple medications.
For more information please visit
Lumigan's site
.
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