Carteolol eye drops for glaucoma

About carteolol eye drops

In chronic glaucoma de ángulo abierto there is damage to the optic nerve at the back of your eye. It is usually caused by an increase in pressure within your eye. Carteolol eye drops work by lowering the pressure in your eye. They do this by reducing the amount of fluid your body makes to fill the front part of your eye (called aqueous humour). By reducing the amount of fluid produced, it reduces the pressure within your eye.

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

• If you have asthma or any other breathing problems.

• Si estás embarazada o amamantando.

• Si tienes una afección cardíaca.

• Si usas lentes de contacto blandos.

• If you have Raynaud's disease or low blood pressure.

• If you are being treated for thyroid problems or diabetes.

• If you know you have a problem with the surface of your eye (the cornea), or if you have particularly dry eyes.

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

• If you have any allergies. It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if you have had a bad reaction to any eye drops.

1. Wash your hands well before you use the drops.

2. Retire la tapa.

3. Tilt your head back a little and pull the lower lid of your eye out to form a pocket.

4. Sostén la botella boca abajo cerca de tu ojo. Intenta no tocar tu ojo mientras haces esto.

5. Apply enough pressure to the container to release one drop into your eye. Only use a second drop if the first drop missed going into your eye.

6. Cierra el ojo durante uno o dos minutos y presiona suavemente el lado de tu nariz donde la esquina de tu ojo se encuentra con tu nariz. Esto ayuda a evitar que la gota se drene y la mantiene en tu ojo.

7. Repite el proceso en tu otro ojo si te han indicado usar las gotas en ambos ojos.

8. Coloca de nuevo la tapa.

• 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 may experience from using them.

• Use one drop into the eye (or eyes) affected, twice a day. Remember to use the drops regularly - try not to miss any doses. There are two strengths of carteolol eye drops available: 1% and 2%. Your doctor will probably prescribe the lower strength for you to use at first, but could later increase the strength of your drops if necessary.

• If you forget to use the drops at your usual time, put them in as soon as you remember but do not 'double up' to make up for any missed doses.

• Take care not to touch the tip of the dropper with your eye, fingers, or any other surface. This is to prevent the drops from becoming contaminated.

• If you are using any other eye drops, leave 5-10 minutes between applying each one. This is to prevent more liquid going into your eye than it can handle. Otherwise the drops will overflow from your eye and not have the intended effect.

• When first put in, eye drops can make your eyes water and may sometimes cause blurred vision. If this happens, it should quickly clear. Make sure you can see clearly again before you drive and before you use tools or machines.

• Do not wear soft contact lenses unless your doctor has advised you otherwise. This is because there is a preservative in these eye drops which can affect soft contact lenses.

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

• If you are having an operation or any dental treatment, remember to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are using carteolol eye drops. This is because the drops may interfere with some medicines used during surgery.

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

Si experimenta otros síntomas que cree que pueden deberse a las gotas para los ojos, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para obtener más consejos.

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

• Eye drops only keep for four weeks once the bottle has been opened, so do not use the drops if the bottle has been open for longer than this. This will help to prevent the risk of eye infections.