Glaucoma Medications.

There are many types of medications that can be used for glaucoma, such as beta-blockers, miotics, and adrenergic agonists. These drugs work by either slowing the flow of fluid into the eye or by helping to improve fluid drainage. Medications can effectively stop the progress of the eye condition; however, as the eye develops tolerance to the medicine, it may be necessary to increase dosages as needed.
Medications for Glaucoma: An Overview
Glaucoma medicines are designed to either reduce pressure by slowing the flow of fluid into the eye or help to improve fluid drainage.

While these drugs can effectively stop the progress of glaucoma, increasing dosages may be needed as the eye develops tolerance to the medication.

Medications to treat glaucoma are serious medicine, not to be confused with over-the-counter eye drops for easing common eye irritations. In order to control the disease, glaucoma drugs are taken for life.

There are several different classes of medicine used for glaucoma (available in the form of pills or eye drops). Some of these classes of medications include:

•Beta-blockers
•Miotics
•Adrenergic agonists
•Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Beta-Blockers
The most popular glaucoma medication, Timoptic® (timolol maleate) is a beta-blocker eye drop. Usually taken twice daily, beta-blockers decrease production of aqueous humor.

These medicines may have side effects on the nerves, digestion, vision, skin, respiration, and heart of some individuals. Side effects may include:

•Lowered pulse rate
•Lower blood pressure
•Worsening of asthma
•Fatigue
•Breathing problems.

Miotics
Timoptic has a century-old predecessor, pilocarpine, that requires more frequent use to do its job, increasing drainage of aqueous fluid in both open and closed angle glaucoma. Pilocarpine is a miotic, designed to increase aqueous fluid drainage. Because these glaucoma medications work by making the pupil smaller, they can result in dim vision and may increase the risk of cataracts.

Everyone should be concerned about glaucoma?

Everyone should be concerned about glaucoma and its effects. It is important for each of us, from infants to senior citizens, to have our eyes checked regularly, because early detection and treatment of glaucoma are the only way to prevent vision impairment and blindness. There are a few factors related to this disease which tend to put some people at greater risk:
•People over the age of 40.
While glaucoma can develop in younger patients, it occurs more frequently as we get older. •People who have a family history of glaucoma.
Glaucoma appears to run in families. The tendency for developing glaucoma may be inherited. However, just because someone in your family has glaucoma does not mean that you will necessarily develop the disease. •People with abnormally high intraocular pressure (IOP).
High IOP is the most important risk factor for glaucomatous damage. •People of African-American, Hispanic, or Asian-American descent.
African-Americans and Hispanics have a greater tendency for developing primary open-angle glaucoma than do people of other races. Asian-Americans are more prone to develop angle-closure glaucoma and normal-tension glaucoma.
•People who have: ◦Diabetes ◦Myopia (nearsightedness) ◦Regular, long-term steroid/cortisone use ◦A previous eye injury ◦A family history of glaucoma
◦Extremely high or low blood pressure
Everyone under 40 should have a comprehensive eye examination every three to four years. Individuals under 40 with one of the above risk factors should get tested every one and a half to two years. Everyone 40 years or older should have a comprehensive eye examination every one and a half to two years. If you are 40 and have an additional risk factor listed above, get tested annually. Anyone with high risk factors should be tested every year or two after 35.