Timolol eye drops: how to take it safely
Timoptic, Timolol
Reviewed by Pharm. Abeeb Junior
What it is for
Lowers eye pressure in glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
How to take it
- Prescription medicine: take it exactly as your doctor or pharmacist told you.
- Wash your hands. Tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid and put one drop in the pocket it makes.
- Close your eye gently for 1 to 2 minutes and press the inner corner of the eye. This keeps the drop in the eye.
- Do not let the tip touch your eye or fingers.
- If you use more than one eye drop, wait 5 minutes between them.
When to take it
Use one drop once or twice a day, as prescribed.
Take it with
Not applicable.
What to avoid
- Wearing soft contact lenses unless the label says it is safe. Take lenses out first and wait 15 minutes.
- Touching the dropper tip to anything.
- Using the bottle for more than 4 weeks after opening.
- Sharing the bottle.
- Stopping without advice. Glaucoma can slowly damage vision without any symptoms.
- Tell your doctor if you have asthma, COPD, a slow heartbeat or heart block. It can reach the blood and cause breathing problems.
- Beta-blocker tablets without telling your doctor.
Possible side effects
Stinging, blurred vision, dry eyes, slow heartbeat, tiredness.
Get help if
Wheezing, breathlessness, fainting or a very slow pulse: get urgent help. Eye pain or sudden vision change: see a doctor.
This is general information, not personal medical advice. Always follow your doctor's or pharmacist's instructions and read the leaflet that comes with your medicine. Medicines and doses can differ between products and people.