Timolol Eye Drops

Timolol eye drops is a prescription medication used alone or in conjunction with other drugs to treat elevated pressure within the eye due to glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The drug is available under several brand names, including Timoptic, Betimol, and Istalol. Timolol is safe for pediatric, adult, and geriatric populations. However, its efficacy and safety in children below two years are not established.

What is Timolol Eye Drop (Ophthalmic), and How Does it Work?

Timolol ophthalmic is an eye medication belonging to the class of drugs known as beta-blockers. The drug lowers eye pressure, but the exact mechanism of action is unknown. It is thought that Timolol reduces the secretion of eye fluid (aqueous humor) by decreasing the blood supply to the ciliary body and interfering with the transport of the fluid. The lower the volume of fluid in the eye, the lower the eye pressure. But this effect is not immediate. It might take up to four weeks of using Timolol for the eye pressure to reduce to satisfactory levels.

What Does Timolol Eye Drops Treat?

Timolol is used to treat elevated eye pressure due to;

• Chronic open-angle glaucoma
• Ocular hypertension
• Secondary glaucoma

However, the doctor might prescribe this drug for uses other than those listed in the medication guide. Always discuss with the provider why they prescribed the drug before taking it. Do not share Timolol eye drops with another person, even if they have similar symptoms.

How to Use Timolol Ophthalmic

Before using Timolol, carefully read the medication guide and follow the directions on the prescription label. If anything is unclear, ask the doctor or the pharmacist to clarify. Use this medication exactly as instructed. Do not apply more drops or use it more frequently than prescribed.

Timolol eye drops do not treat glaucoma but rather controls it. As such, do not stop using the medication even if the symptoms have resolved. Talk to the doctor before discontinuing treatment.

Follow the steps below when applying Timolol eye drops;

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water. Avoid touching the dropper tip or bringing it into contact with other surfaces, including the eye. This helps to prevent contamination.
• Tilt the head backward and pull down the lower lid of the affected eye to form a pocket.
• Using the other hand, hold the dropper, with the tip down, directly over the eye and as close as possible without the tip touching the eye.
• Gently squeeze the dropper to instill a single drop into the pocket in the lower lid as directed by the provider.
• Close the eyes for about 2 minutes and tilt the head down, as if looking at the floor. Meanwhile, apply gentle pressure on the tear duct by placing a finger on the medial corner of the eye (near the nose). This prevents the medication from draining out. Do not squeeze the eyelids, blink, or rub the eyes.  
• If both eyes are affected, repeat the same procedure for the other eye. Wipe off any excess solution from the face using tissue.
• Replace the dropper cap and tighten it. Wash your hands to remove any medication but do not rinse or wipe the dropper tip, as this might cause contamination.
• For those using more than one medication (eye drops or ointment) in the same eye, wait at least 10 minutes before applying the next. Typically, eye drops should be applied before ointments to ensure they enter the eye as required.

Apply the eye drops regularly to get the full benefits. Try to use the medication at the same time(s) of the day.

NB: Those wearing contact lenses should remove them before applying the eye drops and wait up to 15 minutes to reinsert them.

Timolol Dosage Forms

Timolol eye drops is available as 0.25 and 0.5% solutions. The recommended starting dose is one drop of 0.25% Timolol solution applied twice daily in the affected eye. Depending on the clinical response, the dose can be increased to 1 drop of 0.5% solution instilled twice daily. Once the ocular pressures are lowered to satisfactory levels, the dosing frequency is reduced to once daily.

If the eye pressures remain high, the doctor might add another drug to the regimen. However, the second medication should belong to a different class, not beta-blockers.

Possible Side Effects of Timolol Ophthalmic

Like other medications, Timolol eye drops have potential risks (adverse effects). However, not everyone using the drug experiences these unwanted responses. Most of the Timolol side effects are mild and temporary, disappearing as the body gets used to the drug. If the effects persist and become bothersome, talk to the provider.

Common side effects of ophthalmic include;

• burning sensation after applying the eye drops
• double vision
• nausea
• eye irritation
• foreign object sensation (feeling like something is stuck in the eye)
• dizziness
• headache
• red eyes
• teary eyes

Some side effects are rare but potentially serious, requiring immediate medical attention. If the following symptoms occur when using Timolol eye drops, stop applying the medication immediately and contact the doctor or emergency department;

• Difficulty breathing
• Slow, irregular heartbeat
• Lower limb swelling
• Sudden weight changes

Timolol users might experience side effects besides those listed in the medication guide. Report such occurrences to the provider, even if mild.

Precautions and Warnings

• Before applying Timolol eye drops, inform the doctor about any drug allergies, including Timolol or its excipients.
• Although Timolol eye drops is a topical medication, it can enter the bloodstream and cause systemic effects. Therefore, subjects with heart disease, myasthenia gravis, thyroid disease, diabetes, and asthma should avoid or use this medication with caution.
• Timolol eye drops contain benzalkonium chloride preservative, which can stain soft contact lenses. Remove the lenses before applying the eye drops, and wait 15 minutes before reinserting them.
• Before any surgery, tell the doctor if you are using Timolol eye drops, as it might affect the efficacy of anesthetic agents.
• Breastfeeding and pregnant women should not use Timolol unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Tell the doctor if you are planning to become pregnant or get pregnant when using the beta-blocker eye drops.

Drug Interactions

Timolol eye drops can interact with other medications leading to reduced effectiveness or severe adverse reactions. Therefore, before using Timolol, tell the doctor all the drugs you are currently taking or recently used, including prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal medicines.

Potentially, Timolol can interact with;

• Other beta-blockers, such as esmolol
• Calcium channel blockers like verapamil
• Antiarrhythmic drugs like amiodarone

Read the patient information leaflet for all the potential Timolol eye drops drug interactions.

Contraindications to Timolol

• Hypersensitivity to Timolol ophthalmic active ingredients or excipients
• Overt heart failure
• Cardiogenic shock
• Severe obstructive pulmonary disease
• Heart block

Alternatives to Timolol Eye Drops

• Betaxolol (Betoptic S)
• Latanoprost (Xalatan)
• Combigan
• Travatan Z
• Brinzolamide eye drops

Buying Timolol Eye Drops from a Trusted Online Store

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• Signing up and adding the product to the cart
• Clicking the "Checkout Now" button
• Answering the questions presented on the next page
• Entering your payment details and waiting for the order to arrive