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Pilocarpine vs. Combigan

Generic pilocarpine eye drops, formerly known by the brand name Isopto Carpine, are used to treat and prevent high eye pressure. They're also used to shrink the pupil (the black part of your eye), typically before certain eye procedures. This medication belongs to the drug class called cholinergic agonists. The usual dosage is 1 drop in the eye(s) up to 4 times a day. Side effects can include headache, temporary blurry vision, and eye irritation.

• High pressure in the eye
• Glaucoma (open-angle or acute angle-closure)
• Prevention of high eye pressure due to laser eye surgery
• Shrinking the size of the pupils (miosis)

Side effects occurring in 5% or more of people:

• Headache or eyebrow ache
• Difficulty focusing when looking at objects at different distances
• Blurry vision
• Eye irritation
• Worse vision
• Eye pain

Note: Side effects listed were reported by people who used the 2% strength of pilocarpine eye drops with Betoptic-S (betaxolol) 0.25% eye drops.

• Worse vision
• Retinal detachment
• Not recommended for people with inflamed iris
• Higher eye pressure in children
• Don't wear soft contact lenses when you use pilocarpine eye drops

Combigan is a combination eye drop containing brimonidine (an alpha agonist) and timolol (a beta blocker). It's used to lower high pressure inside the eye in adults with conditions like glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Typically, you apply one drop to the affected eye(s) twice daily, about 12 hours apart. Common side effects include eye redness, itching, or dryness. Combigan (brimonidine / timolol) is available as both a brand-name and generic medication.

Treatment of high pressure in the eye in people ages 2 years and older with:

• Ocular hypertension
• Open-angle glaucoma

Reported in up to 15% of people in clinical studies:

• Eye redness
• Eye itching
• Eye burning or stinging

• Only use in the eye
• Allergic reaction of the eye
• Interaction with inhaled beta agonists for asthma or COPD
• Worsening heart problems
• Worsening of other medical conditions
• Masked symptoms of low blood sugar in people with diabetes
• Masked symptoms of high thyroid hormone levels (hyperthyroidism)