OptiPranolol
® (
metipranolol) is a medication approved to lower eye pressure in people with chronic
open angle glaucoma or high eye pressure (ocular
hypertension). It comes in the form of an eye drop and is available by prescription only.
Who Makes This Medication?
Brand-name OptiPranolol is manufactured by Bausch & Lomb Incorporated, while
generic OptiPranolol is made by Falcon Pharmaceuticals.
How Does OptiPranolol Work?
OptiPranolol belongs to a group of drugs called beta-adrenergic blocking agents, more often known as
beta blockers. As the name implies, these medications block beta receptors in the body. Beta receptors are located in a number of places within the body, including the eyes. Beta blockers lower the pressure in the eye by decreasing the amount of fluid produced by the eye (known as aqueous humor).
When and How to Use the Drug
General considerations include the following:
- This medication comes in the form of an eye drop. It is applied to the affected eye(s) twice daily.
- In order to prevent contamination of the drops, do not touch the tip of the dropper to any surface, including the surface of the eye.
- Soft contact lenses can absorb the preservative in these eye drops. In order to avoid this problem, you must remove your lenses before using OptiPranolol and wait at least 15 minutes before reinserting them.
- For the medication to work properly, it must be taken as directed.
