It’s not a secret that many Americans are struggling to pay the cost of their prescription medications. Large pharmaceutical companies are reaping the benefits of a price ceiling that doesn’t exist on the drugs that millions of people need to live a healthy life. Instead of forking over the high costs, many of these citizens are either tapering their doses or foregoing treatment completely. For those that have been diagnosed with Glaucoma, foregoing medication could mean going blind. This is where The RX Helper steps in to provide financial assistance for those with a medication for Glaucoma and others through patient assistance programs.
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is a disease of the eye that essentially causes damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is vital to vision since it is the key to sending image signals to the brain for interpretation. Without the optic nerve, there is no vision. Glaucoma is usually caused by a buildup of fluid in the eye that translates to pressure on the optic nerve, which causes damage. Glaucoma is the main reason for preventable blindness in patients over 18 years of age. Additionally, it is the leading cause of blindness in individuals over the age of 60. More than half of the population of individuals that have Glaucoma don’t even know that they have the disease because high eye pressure commonly does not show any symptoms. Since it is estimated that over three million people in the U.S. have Glaucoma, that means over 1.5 million people do not even know that they have the disease.
How can I Tell if I Have Glaucoma?
In the beginning stages of Glaucoma, symptoms are usually never noticed. But, regular optical check-ups may help to identify eye pressure or malfunctioning eye processes that may hinder eye fluid from draining. Early treatment is vital to the prevention of blindness caused by Glaucoma. It is important to know that there are a few different types of Glaucoma, so the side effects may be different in each patient according to which diagnosis is made. Some common symptoms of Glaucoma may include:
- Eye pain
- Forehead pain
- Loss of vision
- Blurry vision
- Seeing rainbows or lights that aren’t there
- Migraines
- Nausea
Lumigan: Medication for Glaucoma
If you think that you may be experiencing symptoms of Glaucoma, visit your optometrist to have tests done on your optical nerve. If you receive a diagnosis, ask your doctor about Lumigan, a medication for Glaucoma. This prescription is designed to help the symptoms in patients with open-angle Glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The specific reason that this medication is unknown, although research shows that the medication helps to reduce the amount of fluid that the eye produces and also helps to drain the fluid regularly to promote regular function. Lumigan medication for Glaucoma is taken once a day and is an eye drop. It is important to continue the use of Lumigan and to not skip doses for best results and least damage to the eye.
Potential Side Effects of Lumigan
Like all medications approved by the FDA, Lumigan was clinically tested. In those tested, the most common side effect that was found was redness of the eye, which attributed to 31% of the patients in the trial. Of those patients, only 1.6% decided to stop treatment due to the redness of the eyes. Another side effect is a darkening of the coloration of the eye. For example, those with green eyes may turn more hazel as treatment continues, which could be permanent. Also found to darken was the skin around the eyes and eyelashes that is not known to be permanent or not.
Paying for your Medication for Glaucoma
If you are thinking of asking your optometrist about a prescription to Lumigan or already have a prescription, The RX Helper may be able to help you afford your prescription. We use the over 700 patient assistance programs offered through various organizations to come up with the best form of prescription help available. To be deemed eligible, you must fit within a few general guidelines that you can find on our website. Basically, anyone that has little or no health insurance coverage is free to apply with no obligation. If you would like to ask questions about our medications or services, please feel free to call us at 877-767-3297.