Luminor Eye Drops

Indications

Brimonidine Tartrate eye drops are used to lower raised pressure inside the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension (high eye pressure without nerve damage yet). Lowering eye pressure helps protect the optic nerve and sight. It can be used alone or with other glaucoma eye drops.

How It Works

Brimonidine is an alpha-2 agonist, meaning it acts on certain receptors in the eye. It reduces the amount of fluid the eye makes and helps more fluid drain out, which lowers the pressure inside the eye.

Dosage and Administration

Adults: usually 1 drop in the affected eye or eyes two or three times a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart, as prescribed by the eye doctor.

• Wash your hands, tilt your head back, pull down the lower eyelid and put in one drop without touching the tip to the eye.
• Close the eye and press gently on the inner corner for 1 to 2 minutes to reduce the amount absorbed into the body.
• If you use other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between them.
• Remove soft contact lenses before use and wait at least 15 minutes before putting them back.

Interactions

Do not use with MAO inhibitor antidepressants. Tell your doctor if you take tricyclic antidepressants (such as Amitriptyline), sleeping pills, sedatives, strong painkillers or alcohol, as drowsiness may increase. It can add to the effect of blood pressure and heart medicines such as beta blockers and Digoxin.

Contraindications

• Allergy to Brimonidine or any ingredient of the drops.
• Babies and children under 2 years of age.
• People taking MAO inhibitor antidepressants.

Side Effects

Common: red, itchy or burning eyes, blurred vision, a feeling of something in the eye, dry mouth, tiredness, drowsiness and headache. Some people develop an eye allergy after weeks or months of use, with red, swollen and itchy eyelids.

Get urgent medical help if you have swelling of the face, lips or throat, difficulty breathing, severe eye pain, sudden loss or change of vision, or fainting. If a child swallows the drops or seems very drowsy, floppy or has slow breathing, go to hospital at once.

Pregnancy and Lactation

Use in pregnancy only if the eye doctor feels the benefit is greater than the risk. It is not recommended while breastfeeding; talk to your doctor about other options.

Precautions and Warnings

Use with care if you have severe heart disease, very low blood pressure, depression, poor blood flow to the brain or limbs, or kidney or liver disease. It can cause drowsiness or blurred vision, so do not drive or use machines until you know how it affects you. Keep using it even if your eyes feel fine, because glaucoma usually has no symptoms; have your eye pressure checked regularly.

Overdose

Using extra drops in the eye is unlikely to cause harm; rinse with clean water. Swallowing the drops, especially by a child, can cause severe drowsiness, low blood pressure, slow heartbeat and slow breathing. Seek emergency medical help.

Therapeutic Class

Antiglaucoma medicine (alpha-2 adrenergic agonist eye drop).

Storage

Store below 30°C, or as stated on the pack, away from light and out of the reach of children. Keep the bottle tightly closed and throw it away 4 weeks after first opening.