Have you been prescribed VYZULTA® (Latanoprostene bunod) for eye pressure? Let's talk about this in detail.

Has your doctor told you that you have high pressure in your eyes, a condition called glaucoma? In such a case, your doctor may have prescribed you an eye drop called VYZULTA® to control that pressure. It contains a drug called Latanoprostene bunod. This is a very important medicine. So there are a few things you need to know when using it. Let's talk about it all clearly and simply today.

What is Latanoprostene bunod?

Simply put, this is a special type of eye drop that is used to reduce the high pressure inside your eye. Imagine, there is a fluid inside our eyes, and if the pressure increases, it can damage the optic nerve that helps us see. This is what we call glaucoma. So this medicine controls that pressure and protects our precious vision. This medicine can also be used for other reasons, and your doctor will explain that to you.

Things you need to tell your doctor before using the medicine

Before prescribing this medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Be sure to tell them about these things in particular.

• Eye problems: If you have any other existing eye conditions, vision problems, an eye injury, eye infection, or swelling.
• Contact Lenses: If you wear contact lenses, mention it.
• Allergies: If you have any allergies, not only to Latanoprostene bunod, but also to any other medicine, food, dyes, or preservatives, you must tell us about it.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or breastfeeding, this is something you should definitely tell your doctor.

How do you use this eye drop correctly?

To get the full benefit of the medicine, it is very important to use it correctly. Let's see how to do that.

1. Cleanliness first: Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before and after applying the medicine.

2. Correct posture: Sit in a chair or lie down on a bed and tilt your head back a little. Now, with your index finger, gently pull your lower eyelid down. This will create a small pouch between your eye and eyelid, right?

3. Putting the medicine drops: Now take the medicine bottle and hold it carefully without touching the tip of the dropper to your eye , finger, or skin . This is very important, otherwise germs can get into the bottle and spoil the medicine. Put the number of drops that the doctor told you into the bag you made.

4. Let the medicine sit: After applying the medicine , close your eyes gently for a minute or two. Do not blink. If possible, gently press the corner of the eye (tear duct) near the nose with your finger. This will help the medicine stay inside the eye without going down the throat.

5. If you are using other medications: If you are using another type of eye drop, you should wait at least 5 minutes between using one and then using the other.

What if I miss a dose of medication?

If you forget to take your medicine, don't worry. Take the dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is very close to the time of your next dose (for example, it is only a few hours away), skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take a double dose.

Special considerations when using this medicine

You need to be a little more careful with your eyes while using this medicine.

• Visiting the doctor: It is essential to visit the doctor at the scheduled time and have your eye pressure checked.
• Eye color change: This is something that many people should be aware of. Some people may notice a gradual darkening of the color of their iris, eyelashes, and the skin around their eyelids while using this medication. Especially if you are only using one eye, there may be a noticeable difference in the color, length, and thickness of your eyelashes between the treated and untreated eyes. These changes may be permanent. So, if you notice any such changes, don't panic and tell your doctor.
• About Contact Lenses: If you wear contact lenses, remove them before applying the eye drops. It is okay to put them back in 15 minutes after applying the medication.
• Other medications: Tell your doctor about any other medications you are taking (including vitamins and traditional medicines).

What are the possible side effects?

Like any medication, this one can cause minor side effects in some people. It's important to know what they are.

How to store the medicine?

To maintain the quality of the medicine, it must be stored properly.

• Keep away from children: Keep this medicine in a safe place out of the reach of children .
• Before opening: The bottle should be kept in the refrigerator (2-8 degrees Celsius) until it is unopened . Do not store in the freezer.
• After opening: Once opened , the bottle can be stored at room temperature (below 25 degrees Celsius). However, this can only be done for up to 8 weeks. After that, discard any remaining contents.
• Expiration: Never use expired medicine.

Latanoprostene bunod, VYZULTA, eye pressure, glaucoma, eye drops, eye drops, Sinhala