Compare
Zioptan vs. Pilocarpine

Zioptan (tafluprost) is an eye drop medication used to treat high pressure in the eye, such as glaucoma. It works as a prostaglandin to help relieve pressure in the eye. Zioptan (tafluprost) is for adults and is used once each night. Side effects include feeling like there's something in the eye, burning, and stinging. Zioptan (tafluprost) is available as a brand-name and now also a generic medication.

• High pressure in the eye in people with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension

• Eye redness (up to 20%)
• Eye stinging or irritation (7%)
• Headache (6%)
• Itchy eye (5%)

• Darker eyes or eyelids
• Eyelash changes
• Eye inflammation
• Swelling of the retina (macular edema)

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