Types of Glaucoma Eye Drops

Glaucoma is an eye disease where the optic nerve in the back of the eye is damaged, leading to vision loss. A number of factors, including increased eye pressure and poor blood flow to the optic nerve, causes this damage. Glaucoma is mostly treated with eye drops that reduce the pressure inside the eye, although some patients with glaucoma may have surgery to reduce the eye pressure. There are several different types of eye drops used to treat glaucoma. These include prostaglandin analogs, beta blockers, alpha-agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Prostaglandin Analogs

• The prostaglandin analogs relieve the pressure inside the eye by increasing outflow of the fluid, known as aqueous humor, inside the eye. Prostaglandin analogs are usually used once a day at bedtime. There are three prescription prostaglandin analogs: Xalatan (latanoprost), Travatan (travoprost) and Lumigan (bimatoprost). Prostaglandin analogs can also thicken and darken the eyelashes, and bimatoprost is also available in a prescription known as Latisse to be applied to the eyelashes and make them grow.

Beta Blockers

• Beta blockers work by causing the eye to produce less aqueous humor, lowering the pressure. The most common beta blocker used is Timoptic (generic name: timolol). They are usually used twice per day. Beta blockers should be used with extreme caution in people with slow heart rates or asthma.

Alpha-agonists

• Alpha-agonists also reduce eye pressure by causing the eye to make less aqueous humor. Alpha-agonists are also customarily dosed twice per day. The most common alpha-agonist has the trade name of Alphagan (generic name: brimonidine). There is also a combination drop that contains both the alpha-agonist brimonidine and the beta blocker timolol, known by the trade name Combigan.

Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

• Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors also reduce the pressure inside the eye by restricting production of aqueous humor. They are most often used either twice or three times per day, and the most common ones are known as Trusopt (dorzolamide) or Azopt (brinzolamide). There is also a combination drop that contains both dorzolamide and the beta blocker timolol, known as Cosopt.

Glaucoma Treatment

• When beginning treatment to reduce the pressure inside the eye, a doctor will usually come up with a target eye pressure as a goal. A regimen of eye drops, often only one type to begin with, will then be prescribed in order to reduce the eye pressure, with follow-up appointments to check whether this target pressure is reached. If the eye pressure is still too high, more drops can be added to the regimen.

Genetic Risks and Progression of Glaucoma

• If any of your relatives has glaucoma, you are at an increased risk of also getting the disease. Schedule an appointment with an eye doctor to have your eyes examined. Glaucoma is a painless form of visual loss; only a thorough examination will detect early signs of the disease. Once glaucoma causes damage, the resulting visual loss cannot be recovered.