As with other drugs, Travatan Z (travoprost) eye drops can cause side effects, such as eye redness and pain. If you’re not able to tolerate the side effects of Travatan Z, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Travatan Z (travoprost) is a brand-name eye drop medication that’s prescribed to reduce elevated pressure inside the eye in adults with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

If you have problems with side effects from Travatan Z, talk with your eye doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss ways to manage side effects or other available treatment options. Do not stop using Travatan Z without consulting your doctor first.

Travatan Z eye drops can cause certain side effects, some are more common than others. These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects persist, bother you, or become severe, be sure to talk with your eye doctor or pharmacist.

These are just a few of the more common side effects reported by people who used Travatan Z in clinical trials:

  • eye pain
  • eye itchiness
  • feeling like something is in your eye
  • decreased vision
  • eye redness (see “Managing side effects” section)

Mild side effects can occur with Travatan Z use. This list does not include all possible mild side effects of the drug. For more information, refer to the drug’s prescribing information.

Mild side effects that have been reported with Travatan Z include:

These side effects may be temporary, lasting a few days to weeks. However, if the side effects continue, worsen, or become too difficult to tolerate, be sure to talk with your eye doctor or pharmacist.

Note: After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Sharing your experience helps make medications safer for everyone by giving doctors and researchers more information about how the drug works in real life. If you develop a side effect while using Travatan Z and want to tell the FDA about it, visit MedWatch or call 800-FDA-1088.

Travatan Z may cause serious side effects. The following list may not include all possible serious side effects of the drug. For more information, you can refer to the prescribing information for Travatan Z.

If you develop serious side effects while using Travatan Z, call your eye doctor right away. If the side effects seem life threatening or you think you’re having a medical emergency, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Serious side effects that have been reported and their symptoms include:

  • cataract, which may include symptoms such as:
    • blurred vision
    • double vision
    • light sensitivity
    • colored halos around lights
  • decreased vision, which may include symptoms such as:
    • faded vision
    • difficulty reading
  • macular edema
  • change in eyelashes
  • change in eye color

For more information about some of these side effects, see the “Managing side effects” section.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Travatan Z can cause an allergic reaction, but it’s not clear whether this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

In general, symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or serious.

Ways to manage

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your eye doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling or difficulty breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Travatan Z eye drops, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

While taking Travatan Z, you may be able to take steps to make side effects easier to manage.

If you have problems with side effects that do not go away or they become worse, talk with your eye doctor or pharmacist. They can discuss options for managing side effects or other available treatment options.

Eye redness

Eye redness was the most common side effect reported in studies of Travatan Z. Also known as ocular hyperemia, the condition is caused by blood vessel inflammation (swelling) in your eye. You may also experience eye pain and itching along with eye redness.

Steps you can take to manage symptoms related to this side effect include:

  • applying cool compresses
  • using artificial tears, available over the counter (OTC) or from your eye doctor
  • taking OTC pain medications
  • taking an antihistamine to help relieve itchiness
  • avoiding eye makeup

Eye redness can also be a symptom of a serious condition, such as an eye infection. Talk with your doctor if you experience eye redness that worsens instead of improving or eye redness with any of these symptoms:

  • intense pain or itchiness (mild eye pain and itchiness are possible with Travatan Z)
  • pain that worsens in response to light
  • eye discharge

Your doctor will likely perform an eye exam and can recommend treatments.

Macular edema

Some people using Travatan Z in clinical trials developed macular edema (fluid buildup and swelling). It involves the tissue at the center of your retina called the macula.

The main symptom of macular edema is blurred vision that worsens gradually. Macular edema can cause permanent eye damage and vision loss if left untreated.

If you experience symptoms of this side effect, talk with your eye doctor. If it’s macular edema, your doctor may decide to stop treatment with Travatan Z and prescribe a different medication instead.

Change in eyelashes

Travatan Z may increase the length, number, and thickness of eyelashes. It’s not clear how often this side effect occurred in the drug’s studies.

These eyelash changes are usually reversible after your eye doctor stops Travatan Z treatment. If you have questions about this side effect, talk with your doctor for more information.

Change in eye color

Participants reported a change in eye color in studies of Travatan Z. This includes changes in the color of the iris, eyelid, or eyelashes. The most common change seen in these studies was increased brown pigmentation caused by more melanin production in these areas.

Eyelid and eyelash changes may be temporary and reversible after stopping Travatan Z. But changes in iris color — which may not be noticeable for months to years while using the medication — are likely permanent.

The manufacturer of Travatan Z states that the long-term effect of increased pigmentation is not known. For this reason, it’s important to discuss the possibility of eye color changes with your doctor before starting Travatan Z. If you develop color changes and decide to continue Travatan Z treatment, your doctor may recommend regular eye exams.

Travatan Z may cause several side effects. Here are some frequently asked questions about the drug’s side effects and their answers.

Do Travatan Z side effects include liver damage?

No, participants did not report liver damage in Travatan Z studies. Also, people with preexisting liver problems using Travatan Z reported no changes in liver function tests.

If you have questions about Travatan Z and liver health, talk with your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Does Travatan Z cause long-term side effects?

It’s possible. Long-term side effects include those that may start at any time you’re taking a drug, even if you’ve taken it for a long time. It also includes side effects that may not go away, even after you stop taking the drug.

A long-term side effect reported in Travatan Z studies is eye color changes. Some of these changes may be permanent, even after you stop using Travatan Z. For more information, see the “Managing side effects” section earlier in the article.

Talk with your eye doctor to learn more about possible side effects of Travatan Z and how long they may last.

What precautions should I take when using travoprost (Travatan Z)?

If you wear contact lenses, be sure to remove them before instilling drops of Travatan Z. You should wait at least 15 minutes before putting your lenses back in. If you use another eye drop medication, apply it 5 minutes apart from Travatan Z.

You can find other precautions for Travatan Z in the section just below and in the “Serious side effects” section earlier in the article.

Before starting Travatan Z eye drops, discuss your health history with your eye doctor. Travatan Z may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

  • other types of glaucoma, including angle-closure glaucoma
  • inflammation inside your eye, such as uveitis
  • macular edema
  • problem related to the lens capsule (a thin membrane that covers the lens of your eye)
  • previous allergic reaction to this or a similar drug
  • pregnancy
  • breastfeeding

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.