What Is Travoprost Used For?

An Overview of Travoprost Uses

Travoprost ophthalmic solution (Travatan^®) is a prescription eyedrop used to reduce eye pressure in people with high eye pressure (ocular hypertension) or open-angle glaucoma.

 

Not everyone with high eye pressure has glaucoma. For instance, people may have high eye pressure without yet having any damage to the optic nerve, especially early in the course of the disease process. However, high eye pressure should be treated, since it can lead to glaucoma. Effectively treating the condition can help prevent glaucoma.

 

Glaucoma is actually a group of eye diseases that share certain features, including high pressure within the eye, optic nerve damage, and loss of peripheral (side) vision. Sometimes, blindness may occur. Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type (see Types of Glaucoma).

 

Although there is no cure for open-angle glaucoma, symptoms can usually be controlled. The most common treatments are:

 

How Does Travoprost Work?

Travoprost belongs to a class of medications known as prostaglandins. It works by opening the channels that allow fluid to leave the eye, helping the excess fluid drain from the eye more easily. By lowering eye pressure, travoprost can help prevent damage to the optic nerve (and the vision loss that accompanies such damage) caused by high eye pressure.