Sometimes, your patient won’t know the name of their medication, but they will almost always know the color of the cap. The first time someone told me they took the “one with the blue cap” 2 times a day, I had no idea what they meant! If I had known that blue caps are often glaucoma medications, I would already be tipped off on what to look for during my exam. This list is by no means exhaustive, but is a good quick reference in a pinch.
Pink: SteroidsIndications: anterior seg inflammation (e.g., allergic conjunctivitis, SPK, HZV, keratitis, iritis, anterior uveitis, etc.) |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
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Alrex (0.2%) Lotemax (0.5%) |
Loteprendol | qid |
|
Flarex FML (white cap but pink sticker) |
flurometholone | bid-qid |
|
Econopred Pred Mild (0.12%) Pred Forte (1%) |
Prednisolone | qid |
|
Vexol |
Rimexolone | qid |
Gray: NSAIDsIndications: pain/inflammation relief post-op |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
|
Acular LS |
ketorolac tromethamine | qid |
|
Nevanac |
nepafenac | tid |
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Xibrom |
bromfenac | bid |
Green: MioticsIndications: miosis, glaucoma (open angle, acute angle closure) |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
|
Isoptocarpine |
Pilocarpine | tid-qid for open angle glaucoma (more often in acute angle closure) |
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Carboptic Miostat |
Carbachol | qid |
Yellow and Blue: Beta-BlockersIndications: glaucoma |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
|
Combigan |
Brimonidine/timolol (combo: alpha agonist w/ beta blocker) | bid |
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Cosopt |
Dorzoloamide/timolol (combo: CAI w/ beta blocker) | bid |
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Istalol (0.5%) Timoptic (0.25%) |
Timolol | Istalol: qdTiomtic: bid |
Purple: adrenergic agonistsIndications: glaucoma |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
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Alphagan P |
Brimonidine | Tid |
Orange: CAIsIndications: glaucoma |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
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Azopt |
Brinzolamide | tid |
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Trusopt |
Dorzolamide | tid |
Turquiose: prostaglandin analoguesIndications: glaucoma |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
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Lumigan |
Bimatoprost | Qhs |
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Travatan |
Travoprost | Qhs |
Tan: Anti-infectives and anti-bioticsIndications: bacterial eye infections (e.g., conjunctivitis, corneal ulcers) |
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Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
|
Besivance |
Besifloxacin | tid x 7 days |
|
Ciloxan |
Ciprofloxacin | qid |
|
Iquix (1.5%) Quixin (0.5%) |
Levofloxacin | q2h x 2 days, then q4h |
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Ocuflox |
Ofloxacin | q2-4h x 2 days, qid |
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Vigamox |
Moxiflacin | tid |
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Zymar |
Gatifloxacin | qid |
Red: CycloplegicsIndications: cycloplegia, mydriasis, ocular inflammation |
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|
Generic Name |
Common Dosage |
|
|
Mydriacyl |
Tropicamide | |
|
Cyclogly |
Cyclopentolate | tid (for mild anterior uveitis) |
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Equipin |
Homatropine | bid-tid (for moderate anterior uveitis) |
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Isopto Hyoscine |
Scopolamine | |
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Isopto atropine |
Atropine | bid-tid (for severe anterior uveitis) |
