A client receiving glaucoma treatment with a prostaglandin agonist notes that the iris may darken in the treated eye. Which statement best reflects understanding of the regimen?

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Prostaglandin analogs used for glaucoma work by increasing outflow of aqueous humor, which lowers eye pressure over time. A key side effect is that the iris in the eye that gets the drops may darken due to increased melanin production. This change is localized to the treated eye because the medication is applied as a topical drop; it isn’t a systemic treatment, so the untreated eye typically won’t experience the pigment change unless it is also treated. Emphasizing this in regimen understanding means using the drops in the eye that needs treatment and recognizing that you wouldn’t automatically expect changes in the other eye. Also keep in mind this is not a quick cure—glaucoma management is ongoing, and iris darkening, when it occurs, can be permanent and does not occur in every patient.