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What is glaucoma?

Glaucoma in African-Americans11 http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/glaucoma_facts.php. Accessed November 12, 2009.

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. They are 6 to 8 times more likely to get glaucoma, and 6 to 17 times more likely to go blind from the disease than Caucasians.22 Astrani S, Zeimer R, Wilensky J, et al. Large diurnal fluctuations in introaocular pressure are an independent risk factor in patients with glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2000;9:134-142.  More than 750,000 African-Americans in the United States have glaucoma. Half of those with the disease are unaware that they have it.

While no one knows for certain why African-Americans are more likely to develop glaucoma and glaucoma-related blindness than Caucasians, the American Academy of Ophthalmology suggests that African-Americans:

  • may have a greater susceptibility to damage of the optic nerve
  • may be more likely to develop a higher IOP earlier in life
  • may not be as likely to get tested for glaucoma; this lack of early detection and treatment may be one reason for the higher rates of blindness

  1. http://www.glaucoma.org/learn/glaucoma_facts.php. Accessed November 12, 2009.
  2. Astrani S, Zeimer R, Wilensky J, et al. Large diurnal fluctuations in introaocular pressure are an independent risk factor in patients with glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2000;9:134-142.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

INDICATION
TRAVATAN Z® Solution is a prescription medicine to lower eye pressure in patients with glaucoma who have trouble tolerating their current medicine or for whom that medication is not working well enough.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications:
Do not use TRAVATAN Z® Solution if you are hypersensitive to travoprost or any other ingredients in this product.
Precautions and Warnings:
Some patients may experience darkening of the iris (the colored part of the eye) which is most noticeable in patients who only receive treatment in one eye. Patients may also experience growth and thickening of their eyelashes, and/or darkening of the skin around the eye. These changes may be permanent.
Side Effects:
The most common side effect with TRAVATAN Z® Solution is redness of the eye (also known as ocular hyperemia). Other side effects include eye discomfort, a feeling of something in the eye, eye pain and itching.

For more information, please see the full prescribing information