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Timolol

Two timolol eye products sit on this shelf: Cosopt, which pairs it with dorzolamide, and Combigan, which pairs it with brimonidine. Both are used for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Cosopt

Open-angle Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension

2% + 0.5%

Dorzolamide and timolol eye drops for glaucoma and ocular hypertension. They combine two ways of lowering eye pressure.

From$32.33/ bottleView

Combigan

Open-angle Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension

0.2% + 0.5%

Brimonidine and timolol eye drops for open-angle glaucoma and high eye pressure. It combines two types of pressure-lowering action in one bottle.

From$34.17/ bottleView

Key points

  • Timolol is an ophthalmic beta blocker that lowers pressure inside the eye by reducing fluid production.
  • Ophthalmic timolol can have systemic beta-blocker effects, including effects on heart rate and breathing, beyond its local action in the eye.

Common questions about Timolol

What separates Cosopt from Combigan?

Cosopt pairs 0.5% timolol with 2% dorzolamide, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that reduces fluid production through a second pathway. Combigan pairs 0.5% timolol with 0.2% brimonidine, an alpha-2 agonist that lowers fluid production by acting on different receptors. Both are combination eye drops in the Eye Care range.

Why does timolol appear in two different combinations?

Timolol lowers eye pressure on its own, but a second ingredient can reduce fluid production through an additional pathway. Dorzolamide and brimonidine each work through a different mechanism, so the two combinations lower eye pressure through different second routes. The original brand-name timolol drop, Timoptic, comes in 0.25% and 0.5% strengths and is not listed here.

Further reading