Latanoprost is a derivative of the chemical prostaglandin F2-alpha. This prescription was approved by the FDA in 1996. This comes as an ophthalmic solution or eye drop.
Latanoprost is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension which is a raised pressure in the eye. Glaucoma occurs where the pressure exerted by the liquid within the eyeball is too great. The great pressure harms the optic nerve at the back of the eye. The injury affects the capacity of the nerve to spread visual pictures from the eye towards the brain and this can lead to blindness. This medication helps lessen the pressure within the eye and decreasing the risk of nerve damage and blindness.
Within the eyeball, the pressure is naturally sustained by a constant flow of liquid called aqueous humor through the eyeball. Aqueous humor is made by a portion of the eye called the ciliary body. Through channels called the trabecular meshwork, it drains out of the eyeball. If the outflow of aqueous humor is clogged, the aqueous humor forms up inside the eye which increases the pressure within the eyeball. This pressure needs to be reduced, as it might harm the optic nerve and damage vision consequently.
Latanoprost decreases the pressure in the eye by duplicating the deed of an existing prostaglandin. These are a set of normal body chemicals to be found in several places inside the body. In the eye, they raise the waste of the aqueous humor outside the eyeball. This medicine is an artificial prostaglandin that works on equal receptors in the eye as the normal prostaglandins. Therefore, out of the eyeball, it reasons to an upsurge in the drainage of aqueous humor. This cuts the force within the eye.
Follow all the instructions given on your prescription label and carefully read all medication guides. Use the medication exactly as it is directed by your doctor. The usual dose of this medication is one drop into the affected eye each evening. Follow the dosing instructions of your doctor very carefully. Before using the eye drops, wash your hands thoroughly.
Never place the eyedropper directly on your eye or touch the tip of it. An unclean dropper may infect your eye that might also lead to serious vision problems. Let your doctor know right away if you have an eye infection or eye injury, or if you plan to have eye surgery.
The generic Latanoprost is an inexpensive medication that only costs $22.25 per bottle of 0.005%/2.5 ml bottle. For 10 bottles, it will only cost you $189 which is $18.9 per bottle of 0.005%/2.5 ml. The brand name Xalatan costs $97.44 per bottle of 0.005%/2.5 ml.