Levobunolol eye drops for glaucoma

About levobunolol eye drops

In chronic open-angle glaucoma 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. Levobunolol eye drops work by lowering the pressure in your eye. They do this by reducing the amount of fluid that you make that fills 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. Lávese bien las manos antes de usar las gotas.

2. Remove the cap (or twist off the tip of the unit if you are using a single-dose unit).

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

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

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. Repeat the process in your other eye if you have been told to use the drops in both eyes. (The contents of one single-dose unit are enough for both eyes.)

8. Replace the cap (or if you are using the single-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 may experience from using them.

• Use one drop into the affected eye (or eyes). Your doctor will tell you whether to use the drops once or twice a day - your dose will also be printed on the label of the pack. Remember to use the drops at regular intervals and try not to miss any doses.

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

• Tenga cuidado de no tocar la punta del gotero con su ojo, dedos o cualquier otra superficie. Esto es para evitar que las gotas se contaminen.

• Si estás usando otras gotas para los ojos, deja pasar 5-10 minutos entre la aplicación de cada una. Esto es para evitar que entre más líquido en tu ojo del que puede manejar. De lo contrario, las gotas se desbordarán de tu ojo y no tendrán el efecto deseado.

• 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 if you are using eye drops from a bottle unless your doctor has advised you otherwise. This is because there is a preservative in bottles of eye drops which can affect soft contact lenses. You may wear soft contact lenses if you are using the single-dose units, as there is no preservative in these (but remember to take out your lenses to apply the drops and wait for at least 15 minutes before putting your lenses back in).

• Mantén tus citas regulares con tu médico y la clínica ocular para que se pueda verificar tu progreso.

• If you are having an operation or any dental treatment, remember to tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are using levobunolol 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 the most common ones associated with levobunolol. 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 in bottles 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.

• Single-dose units should be used immediately the unit is opened. Do not store or re-use opened units for later doses. This is because the units do not contain any preservative.