Tafluprost is a medication for the treatment of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved this medication. This regulates the flow of fluid within the eye to maintain normal pressure. Lowering high pressure inside the eye can help prevent blindness. Tafluprost is supplied as a sterile solution. 

 Open-angle glaucoma is an eye disease that gradually steals vision. There are typically no early warning signs or painful symptoms of this condition. It develops slowly and sometimes without noticeable sight loss for many years. Most people who are experiencing open-angle glaucoma feel well and don’t notice a change in their vision at first because the initial loss of vision is of side or peripheral vision. The visual acuity or sharpness of vision is maintained until late in the disease. The signs and symptoms of this may include:

• Tunnel vision in the advanced stages
• Patchy blind spots in your side or central vision often in both eyes

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease. These reasons stress in the eye to slowly upsurge. This stress harms the optic nerve. It occurs so gradually that you may lose vision before you’re even aware of a problem. 

Ocular hypertension means the pressure in your eyes is higher than normal. High eye pressure might reason to glaucoma and permanent vision loss in certain individuals if this is left untreated. However, some people can have ocular hypertension without developing any damage to their eyes or vision. If you are experiencing symptoms like blurred vision, halos, or pain, visit your ophthalmologist right away. 

This condition is caused by a malfunction of the drainage system for the aqueous humor, the fluid whose function is to bathe and nourish the ocular structures. When it does not flow correctly for different reasons, the balance between the fluid produced inside the eye and the fluid released from it is broken. In which it may lead to an increase in intraocular pressure. Although anyone can suffer from ocular hypertension, certain groups are more likely to suffer from it and, therefore, to develop glaucoma:

• The over 60s
• People with a family history of ocular hypertension or glaucoma
• The very short- and far-sighted
• Diabetics
• Patients with certain ocular trauma or diseases
• Patients with a narrow ocular angle

How does Tafluprost work?

Tafluprost is a type of medicine called a prostaglandin analog. This decreases the pressure in the eye. It is by imitating the action of a naturally occurring prostaglandin. Prostaglandins are a group of natural body chemicals found in many places in the body. In the eye, they increase the drainage of the aqueous humor out of the eyeball. Tafluprost is a synthetic prostaglandin that acts on the same receptors in the eye as the natural prostaglandins. It causes an increase in the drainage of aqueous humor out of the eyeball which decreases the pressure within the eye.

The pressure within the eyeball is naturally maintained by a continuous flow of liquid called aqueous humor through the eyeball. Aqueous humor is produced by a part of the eye called the ciliary body. It drains out of the eyeball through channels called the trabecular meshwork. If the outflow of aqueous humor is blocked, the aqueous humor builds up inside the eye which increases the pressure within the eyeball. This pressure needs to be reduced, as otherwise it can damage the optic nerve and impair vision as a result. 

How to use Tafluprost?

Apply this medication in the affected area as directed by your doctor. This is usually applied once a day in the evening. Do not use Tafluprost more often than prescribed. Using this more than the prescription can make it work less well. To apply drops, wash your hands first. To avoid contamination, do not touch the dropper tip or let it touch your eye or any other surface. 

Apply gentle pressure for 1-2 minutes before opening your eyes. Try not to blink or rub your eye. Repeat these steps for your other eye if so directed. If you are having medication other than this, wait at least 5 minutes before applying it. Use eye drops before eye ointments to let the drops to enter the eye. 

Use this medication regularly to get the most benefit from it. Remember to use it at the same time each day. It is important to continue using Tafluprost even if you feel well. If your condition does not improve or gets worse, call your doctor. 

What are the side effects of Tafluprost?

Common side effects:

• Cough
• Common cold symptoms
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Eye pain
• Dry eyes
• Eye itching eye-stinging or irritation 
• Eye redness
• Cataracts
• Eye inflammation 
• Urinary tract infections 

If any side effects occur, call your doctor right away. 

Warnings and Precautions

• This medicine is for use in the eye and must not be taken by mouth. 
• This eye drop may cause your vision to blur temporarily. Do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this affects you. 
• This may cause the skin around the treated eye to darken. The risk of this can be reduced by wiping away any excess solution on the skin around the eye after putting the eye drops into the eye.
• While using this medicine you should have regular eye examinations.
• Use this with caution in people with an artificial lens in the eye, no lens in the eye, a history of inflammation of the middle layer of the eyeball, those with decreased kidney or liver function, and people with severe or poorly controlled asthma. 
• This is not recommended for use in children and adolescents under 18 years of age. 
• This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor right away.
• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding women, consult your doctor first before using this prescription.