Glaucoma Treatment With Pilocarpine

Glaucoma is a medical condition that affects more than four million Americans and is characterized by increased pressure in the eye, according to the Glaucoma Research Foundation. Left untreated, glaucoma has the potential to cause blindness. Fortunately, the effects of the condition can be controlled through the use of prescription medications such as pilocarpine.

Identification

• Pilocarpine is a generic prescription drug sold under a number of brand names in the U.S. The drug is administered in the form of an eye drop or a gel ointment.

Function

• Prilocaine works by causing muscles in the eye to constrict, opening up passages known as trabecular meshwork. When the trabecular meshwork is open, fluid in the eye is able to drain, reducing eye pressure.

Time Frame

• The ointment form of pilocarpine is typically used once per day, while the eyedrops may be taken up to six times daily, according to rxlist.com. You are likely to need to use pilocarpine for the rest of your life to keep pressure in your eyes under control.

Risks

• The most common side effects of pilocarpine include blurred vision after the medication is administered and decreased night vision. If you take too much pilocarpine it is possible to experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, sweating, difficulty breathing and excessive salivation.

Considerations

• Because the effects of pilocarpine upon fetal development are unknown, doctors restrict use of the drug in pregnant women to situations in which there is no safe alternative. If you have a history of asthma it may not be safe for you to take pilocarpine, according to the Mayo Clinic.