Timolol is used to treat glaucoma, a condition in which increased pressure in the eye can lead to gradual loss of vision. Timolol decreases the pressure in the eye.
Timolol comes as eyedrops and eye gel. Timolol eyedrops usually are applied once or twice a day, at evenly spaced intervals, until pressure in your eyeball is controlled (about 4 weeks). Then you may be able to use it once a day. Timolol gel usually is applied once a day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Use timolol exactly as directed. Do not use more or less of it or use it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Timolol controls glaucoma but does not cure it. Continue to use timolol even if you feel well. Do not stop using timolol without talking to your doctor.
To use the eyedrops or eye gel, follow these instructions:
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Use a mirror or have someone else put the drops or gel in your eye.
- If you are using the eye gel, invert the container and shake it once. (There is no need to shake the solution.) Make sure that the end of the dropper is not chipped or cracked.
- Avoid touching the dropper tip against your eye or anything else. If the tip touches anything, it can become contaminated with bacteria that can cause serious eye infections.
- Hold the dropper tip down at all times to prevent drops from flowing back into the bottle and contaminating the remaining contents.
- Lie down or tilt your head back.
- Holding the bottle between your thumb and index finger, place the dropper tip as near to your eyelid as possible without touching it.
- Brace the remaining fingers of that hand against your cheek or nose.
- With the index finger of your other hand, pull the lower lid of the eye down to form a pocket.
- Drop the prescribed number of drops into the pocket made by the lower lid and the eye. Placing drops on the surface of the eyeball can cause stinging.
- Close your eye and press lightly against the lower lid with your finger for 2 to 3 minutes to keep the medication in the eye. Do not blink.
- Replace and tighten the cap right away. Do not wipe or rinse it off.
- Wipe off any excess liquid from your cheek with a clean tissue. Wash your hands again.
This medication is sometimes prescribed for other uses; ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.
- Betimol®
- Combigan® (as a combination product containing Timolol and Brimonidine)
- Cosopt® (as a combination product containing Timolol and Dorzolamide)
- Timoptic®
- Timoptic®GFS
- Timoptic-XE®
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