About bimatoprost eye drops

An increase in pressure within your eye can lead to damage to the optic nerve at the back of your eye. When this occurs it is called glaucoma. Glaucoma can lead to a loss of vision if it is not treated. If you have an increased pressure within your eye but without any damage to the optic nerve, this is called ocular hypertension. People with ocular hypertension have an increased risk of later developing glaucoma. Treatment with bimatoprost eye drops helps to reduce eye pressure in people with ocular hypertension, and to prevent further eye damage in people with open-angle glaucoma.

Bimatoprost eye drops work by increasing the drainage of fluid from the inside of your eye. This helps to lower the pressure within your eye. Bimatoprost eye drops are available as bottles of eye drops, with or without a preservative, and also as single-dose units which do not contain a preservative.

Sometimes, more than one type of eye drop is needed to keep the pressure in the eye low. If this is the case for you, you may be asked to use two different eye drops, or you may be given drops which combine more than one type. Bimatoprost is available as a combination eye drop with another medicine which reduces eye pressure, called timolol (a beta-blocker), in brands called Ganfort® and Eyzeetan®.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine can only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start using bimatoprost it is important that your doctor knows:

• Se sei incinta o stai allattando.

• If you have had surgery on your eye to replace or remove the lens (such as cataract removal).

• If you have a breathing problem such as asthma or COPD.

• If you have had problems in the past with viral infections in your eye.

• Se hai problemi con il funzionamento del tuo fegato, o problemi con il funzionamento dei tuoi reni.

• If you are taking or using any other medicines or eye drops. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• Se hai mai avuto una reazione allergica a un medicinale.

1. Lavati bene le mani prima di usare le gocce.

2. Open the bottle, or if you are using a single-use dose unit, remove the tip of the unit.

3. Inclina leggermente la testa all'indietro e tira verso il basso la palpebra inferiore per formare una tasca.

4. Hold the bottle or single-use dose unit upside down near to your eye. Try not to touch your eye as you do this.

5. Apply enough pressure to release one drop into your eye. Do not use more than one drop - using several drops does not improve your glaucoma but will increase the risk of side-effects.

6. Chiudi l'occhio per un minuto o due e premi delicatamente sul lato del naso dove l'angolo dell'occhio incontra il naso. Questo aiuta a impedire che la goccia defluisca e la mantiene nell'occhio.

7. Repeat the process in your other eye if you have been told to use the drops in both eyes. If you are using single-dose units, there is sufficient liquid in one unit to put a drop into both eyes.

8. Put the cap back on the bottle, or if you are using the single-use dose unit, throw it away.

• Before you start using the eye drops, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from the pack. It will give you more information about the eye drops and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you could experience from using them.

• Use one drop in the eye (or eyes) affected once a day. Your doctor may recommend you use the drops in the evening.

• Remember to use the drops every day. If you do forget, do not double up on the next day to make up for a missed dose.

• Fai attenzione a non toccare la punta del contagocce con l'occhio, le dita o qualsiasi altra superficie. Questo serve a prevenire la contaminazione delle gocce.

• If any of the eye drop solution runs on to your face, wipe it away as soon as you can with a clean tissue or hanky.

• Se stai usando altri colliri, lascia passare 5-10 minuti tra l'applicazione di ciascuno. Questo per evitare che entri più liquido nell'occhio di quanto possa gestire. Altrimenti le gocce traboccheranno dall'occhio e non avranno l'effetto desiderato.

• Quando vengono instillate per la prima volta, le gocce oculari possono far lacrimare gli occhi e talvolta causare visione offuscata. Se ciò accade, dovrebbe risolversi rapidamente. Assicurati di vedere chiaramente di nuovo prima di guidare e prima di usare strumenti o macchinari.

• Keep your regular appointments with your doctor and eye clinic so that your progress can be checked.

• Do not wear soft contact lenses unless your doctor has advised you otherwise. This is because bottles of eye drops contain preservatives which can affect some soft contact lenses. The single-dose units do not contain a preservative.

Along with their useful effects, eye drops can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains the most common ones associated with bimatoprost. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with the drops. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Se si verificano altri sintomi che ritieni possano essere causati dal collirio, parla con il tuo medico o farmacista per ulteriori consigli.

• Tenere tutti i medicinali fuori dalla portata e dalla vista dei bambini.

• Conservare in un luogo fresco e asciutto, lontano da fonti di calore e luce diretta.

• Eye drops in bottles can be used for four weeks once the bottle has been opened. Even if there is still some solution remaining after this time, throw the bottle away and use a new one. This will help to prevent the risk of eye infections.