Travatan

Travatan is a prescription medicine approved to lower eye pressure in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It works by opening the channels that allow fluid to leave the eye. Travatan comes in the form of an eyedrop that is typically applied once daily. It should only be used when other medications for treating high eye pressure have failed.

Travatan Eye Drops

What Is Travatan?

Travatan^® (travoprost ophthalmic solution) is a prescription eyedrop used to decrease eye pressure in people with the following eye conditions:

High fluid pressure in the eye (ocular hypertension)
Open-angle glaucoma.

In April 2010, Alcon, Inc., announced that it would no longer be making regular Travatan. However, Travatan Z (which contains a gentler preservative) will continue to be available.

Travatan is approved for use when other medications have failed or are not tolerated well, due to side effects. The medication comes in two forms -- regular Travatan (which uses benzalkonium chloride as a preservative) or newer Travatan Z (which uses a gentler preservative).

(Click Travatan Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes It?

Travatan is made by Alcon Laboratories, Inc.

How Does Travatan Work?

Travatan 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 to drain from the eye more easily. By reducing eye pressure, this medication can help prevent damage to the optic nerve (and the vision loss that accompanies such damage) caused by high eye pressure.

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