Betagan Eye Drops to treat high pressure inside the eye due to glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Betagan belongs to a class of drugs known as beta blockers and works by decreasing the amount of fluid production within the eye. Lowering high pressure inside the eye helps to prevent blindness.

Use Betagan Eye Drops as directed by your doctor. To use the eye drops:

• Shake the medicine well just before each use.
• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after you use Betagan Eye Drops.
• Tilt the head back. Press your finger gently on the skin just beneath the lower eyelid and pull the lower eyelid away from the eye to make a space. Drop the medicine into this space. Let go of the eyelid and gently close the eyes. Do not blink. Keep the eyes closed and apply pressure to the inner corner of the eye with your finger for 1 or 2 minutes to allow the medicine to be absorbed by the eye.
• To keep Betagan Eye Drops as germ-free as possible, do not touch the applicator tip on any surface (including the eye). Also, keep the container tightly closed. 

General

• Betagan Eye Drops should be used with caution in patients with known hypersensitivity to other beta-adrenoceptor-blocking agents.
  Use caution in patients with known diminished pulmonary function and cerebrovascular insufficiency. 
• Soft contact lenses may absorb Betagan Eye Drops. Patients wearing soft contact lenses should be instructed to remove contact lenses before administration of the solution and wait at least 15 minutes after instilling Betagan Eye Drops before reinserting soft contact lenses.

Muscle Weakness

• Beta-adrenergic blockade has been reported to potentiate muscle weakness consistent with certain myasthenic symptoms.
  Risk Of Anaphylactic Reaction
  Betagan Eye Drops patients with a history of severe anaphylactic reactions to various allergens may be more reactive to repeated challenges, either accidental, diagnostic, or therapeutic. 

Pregnancy

• Betagan Eye Drops should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Nursing Mothers

• Caution should be exercised when Betagan Eye Drops are administered to a nursing woman. 

Pediatric Use

• Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have yet to be established.

Geriatric Use

• No overall differences in safety or effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.

The most common side effects of Betagan Eye Drops include:

• mild burning in your eyes,
• stinging or eye discomfort,
• feeling like something is in your eye,
• blurred vision,
• dizziness,
• weakness,
• headache,
• rash, and
• itching

Tell the doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or does not go away. These are only some of the possible side effects of Betagan. For more information, ask your doctor or pharmacist. 

How do Betagan Eye Drops work?

Betagan Eye Drops are beta-blockers used to control intraocular pressure in open-angle glaucoma or mild-to-moderate ocular hypertension.

What strength do Betagan Eye Drops have?

0.5%
Levobunolol, the active ingredient of Betagan Eye Drops, is present in each ml of sterile ophthalmic solution at a concentration of 5 mg.

What side effects can Betagan Eye Drops cause?

• eye stinging or burning
• discomfort, redness, or itching of the eye
• swelling of the eyelids
• decreased vision may occur.