prostaglandin

This is a class of medications used for treating glaucoma. The prostaglandins work by increasing outflow of aqueous fluid from the eye. Examples include Xalatan (latanoprost), Travatan (travoprost), and Lumigan (bimatoprost).  These medications are typically dosed once a day. The main complication of these drops is eye redness and irritation, which is why most people take their drops at bedtime so they can sleep through this redness. Other side effects include eyelash growth (woman tend to like this) and pigmentary changes to the skin and iris.  All of these findings are quite rare, and prostaglandin drops work so well that they are initial therapy for most people with a new diagnosis of glaucoma. Xalatan was the first prostaglandin eye drop in use – it is now available as generic latanoprost, making this therapy even more affordable.