Eye drops and medications for glaucoma

In most cases, glaucoma eye drops are enough to control IOP and prevent eye damage. Glaucoma surgeries are always expensive and involve certain complications. For good candidates, the doctor may prescribe more than one type of drops to get best effects. These eye drops can bring down the high IOP. According to their active ingredient chemical, glaucoma eye drops can be divided into several types.

Eye drops containing prostaglandins require only one administration every day. Prostaglandins in the drops can relax the eye’s interior muscles and provide better fluids flow. Xalatan, Lumigan, Travatan Z, and Rescula are some of the prostaglandins that have received FDA approval. However, they may bring side effect such as stinging, burning, eye color change and so on.

Beta-blockers such as Timoptic XE, Istalol and Betopic S can decrease the production of eye fluids. They are used as an adjunct to prostaglandins. Alpha-adrenergic agonists including Iopidine, Alphagan and Alphagan-P work by decreasing the rate of eye fluid production. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors such as Trusopt and Azopt perform in the same way.

Parasympathomimetics perform by increasing the outflow of eye fluids from the eye and they are usually used to control narrow-angle glaucoma. Epinephrine is more powerful, which can both decrease the eye fluids production and increase their drainage. Hyperosmotic agents are for severe glaucoma. They can reduce the fluid volume in the eye immediately. Combinations of different medications are also FDA-approved for certain glaucoma patients.

Also aiming at controlling high IOP, some investigational treatments are available, such as Latanoprost Punctal Plug Delivery System, Retaane and Nanoparticles.

There are also many investigational glaucoma treatments dealing with optic nerve protection. Various neuroprotective agents are under clinical trials to prove safety and effectiveness. Namenda has been shown to prevent shrinkage of visual nerve cells in the presence of glaucoma. Copaxone may be proved to protect the optic nerve from direct toxic effects brought by high IOP. Gingko biloba is also indicated to protect optic nerve in the eye.

It is worth mentioning that glaucoma eye drops are not perfect. They may exclude certain patients with some medical conditions. Medications placed in the eye will be absorbed into the conjunctival blood vessels and enter the bloodstream, so that heart rate and breathing can be affected. Certain glaucoma eye drops can interact with other medications such as digitalis. It is important to consult your doctor about these issues.