Medications for Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma affects an estimated 3 million Americans, according to MedicineNet.com's report on the eye disease, and is the leading worldwide cause of permanent vision loss. There are a variety of medications used to treat glaucoma and lower elevated eye pressure.

Significance

• Glaucoma treatments aim to lower the elevated eye pressure, called intraocular pressure (IOP), that increases with the disease. This high pressure threatens harm to the optic nerve, which is responsible for vision. Damage to the optic nerve results in vision loss. Glaucoma medications function to lower IOP.

Function

• High IOP, called ocular hypertension, means that there is a buildup of fluid in the eye, causing the pressure. For the eye to function properly, eye fluid (aqeous humor) must have a constant flow. Without drainage, fluid accumulates. Glaucoma medications function to drain the eye fluid.

Eye Drops

• Special prescription eye drops are commonly used for glaucoma treatment, and either increase the outflow of fluid or reduce the amount of fluid present. Types of eye drops used are miotics, epinphrines, beta-blockers, carbonic-anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandin. There are a plethora of brands from which to choose.

Laser Surgery

• Several types of laser treatments are used to treat glaucoma. Laser iridotomy surgery creates a drainage hole in the eye. Laser trabeculoplasty, used instead of eye drops, burns a drainage channel to release fluid. Laser cilioablation, for severe glaucoma, uses lasers to destroy the cells that produce the fluid, thereby reducing IOP.

Trabeculectomy

• Trabeculectomy is the most widely used and preferred type of glaucoma surgery. Also employing laser technology, this microsurgical procedure removes cells that cause blockage, and creates a new pathway for filtering and draining the eye fluid.

Oral Medications

• Some ophthalmologists prescribe oral medications for glaucoma. Carbonic anhydrase anhibitors are the most commonly used oral medications, which, again, function to lower eye pressure. These may include the brands Diamox, Daranide and Neptazane.