What Is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is almost always caused by too much pressure inside one or both eyes. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) can damage the optic nerves, which are the information pathways between the eyes and brain.
There are two major glaucoma categories, including open-angle or wide-angle glaucoma (most common) and angle-closure or narrow-angle glaucoma (more common in Asia).
In open-angle glaucoma the drainage
system in your eye looks normal but the fluid doesn’t flow out like it should.
In angle-closure glaucoma, the eye does not drain because the drain space between the iris and the cornea becomes too narrow, which can cause a sudden build-up of pressure in the eye.
Why Glaucoma Should Be Treated
If left untreated, glaucoma can lead to peripheral vision loss and cause blindness. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness across the world, next to cataracts. While there is no cure for glaucoma, it can be controlled with proper management.
Glaucoma Treatment
The damage caused by glaucoma cannot be reversed. But treatment and regular checkups can help slow or prevent vision loss, especially if you catch the disease in its early stages.
Glaucoma treatment often involves medication (usually eye drops, but sometimes oral medications as well), laser surgery or microsurgery, with the goal of lowering pressure in your eye.
Eye Drops for Glaucoma
Glaucoma treatment most often starts with eye drops. They are used to help the fluid in your eyes drain better. In some cases, they can also reduce the amount of fluid your eyes make.
Various glaucoma eye drops are classified by the active ingredient chemical that helps make it work. Depending on how low your eye pressure needs to be, more than one of the eyedrops below may need to be prescribed.
- Prostaglandin analogs or prostamides
These glaucoma eye drops often have the
best user compliance because they are required only once daily, except for
Rescula, which is taken twice per day.
Prostaglandin analogs generally work by relaxing muscles in the eye’s interior structure to allow better outflow of the aqueous humor, the fluid made continuously by the eye.
Eyedrops in this category include:
- Travoprost, 0.004%
Brand Product
Travatan Z – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Alcon
Travatan – Product of Belgium – Manufactured by Alcon
Travatan – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Alcon
Generic Product
Travoprost Z Opht Solution – Product of Canada – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Lupitros Z Opht Solution – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Travoprost – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
- Bimatoprost, 0.01%, 0.03%
Brand Product
Lumigan – Product of New Zealand, United Kingdom – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Lumigan UDV – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Lumigan RC – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Bimat – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Bimatoprost – Product of New Zealand – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers Bimatoprost – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Bimat LS – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
- Latanoprost, 0005%
Brand Product
Xalatan – Product of Turkey, United Kingdom – Manufactured by Pfizer Inc
- Latanoprostene bunod, 0.024%
Brand Product
Vyzulta Eye Drops – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Bausch & Lomb Inc
- Tafluprost (Zioptan)
- Unoprostone (Rescula)
Possible side effects include stinging and burning, eye color change, and lengthening and curling of the eyelashes.
- Beta blockers
These reduce the production of fluid in your eye, thereby lowering the pressure in your eye.
Examples include:
- Timolol, 0.25%, 0.5%
Timoptol – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Santen– This product is known as Timoptic in the U.S.
Glucomol Eye Drops – Product of India – Manufactured by Allergan Inc – This product is known as Betimol in the U.S.
Timoptol XE – Product of New Zealand – Manufactured by Mundipharma Pharm
Generic Product
Timolol Eye Drops – Product of New Zealand – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Iotim Eye Drops – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers – This product is the generic of the U.S. brand Betimol
- Betaxolol Hydrochloride, 0.25%
Brand Product
Betoptic S – Product of Belgium – Manufactured by Alcon
- Levobunolol Hydrochloride, 0.5%
Brand Product
Betagan Eye Drops – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Allergan
Possible side effects include burning and stinging upon instillation. Less frequent side effects may include difficulty breathing, slowed heart rate, decreased blood pressure, impotence and fatigue. This class of medication can be prescribed for once- or twice-daily use depending on your condition and the prescribed medication.
- Alpha-adrenergic agonists
These drops help with drainage, like prostaglandin analogs do. However, they also lessen the amount of fluid your eye makes.
Examples of these drops include:
- Brimonidine, 0.2%, 0.15%, 0.1%
Brand Product
Alphagan – Product of Canada, India, United Kingdom – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Alphagan P – Product of Australia, Canada, India – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Alphagan Z – Product of India – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
Generic Product
Brimonidine – Product of Canada, United Kingdom – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Brimonidine P – Product of Canada, India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
- Apraclonidine (Iopidine)
- Dipivefrin (Propine)
Possible side effects include an irregular heart rate, high blood pressure, fatigue, red, itchy, or swollen eyes, and dry mouth. This class of medication is usually prescribed for twice-daily use but sometimes can be prescribed for use three times a day.
- Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors
These medications work by decreasing the rate of aqueous humor production. They usually are used in combination with other anti-glaucoma eye drops and not alone.
Examples include:
- Brinzolamide, 1%
Brand Product
Azopt Eye Drops – Product of Belgium – Manufactured by Alcon
Generic Product
Brinzolamide Eye Drops – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
- Dorzolamide, 2%
Brand Product
Trusopt – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Merck
Generic Product
Dorzolamide Eye Drops – Product of Canada, United Kingdom – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Dorzox – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
Possible side effects include a metallic taste, frequent urination, and tingling in the fingers and toes. This class of eye drops is usually prescribed for twice-daily use but sometimes can be prescribed for use three times a day.
- Combined Agents
Several eyedrops are available that combine the actions of two medications from different categories.
The reasoning behind the use of
combined agents is that it is easier for patients to put just one drop in their
eyes instead of two; it may also be healthier for the eye as less preservative
is being applied.
Examples include:
- Brimonidine Tartrate/ Timolol Maleate, 0.2%/0.5%
Brand Product
Combigan Eye Drops – Product of Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom – Manufactured by Allergan Inc
- Dorzolamide Hydrochloride/ Timolol Maleate, 2%/ 0.5%
Brand Product
Cosopt – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Purdue Pharma
Cosopt – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Merck Sharp & Dohme
Generic Product
Dorzox-T – Product of India – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers – This product is the generic of the U.S. brand Cosopt
Xolatim – Product of Turkey – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers – This product is the generic of the U.S. brand Cosopt
- Travoprost/ Timolol Maleate, 0.004%/ 0.5%
Brand Product
DuoTrav PQ – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Novartis
DuoTrav – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Alcon
Generic Product
Travoprost-Timop PQ – Product of Canada – Manufactured by various generic Manufacturers
- Timolol Maleate/ Latanoprost, 5mcg/ 50mcg
Brand Product
Xalacom – Product of Canada – Manufactured by Pfizer Inc
- Brinzolamide/ Brimonidine Tartrate, 1%/ 0.2%
Brand Product
Simbrinza – Product of United Kingdom – Manufactured by Alcon – Marketed as 10mg/mL-2mg/mL in the UK
For glaucoma medications to work, you must take them regularly and continuously as prescribed by your doctor.
Where to Buy Safe and Affordable Eye Drops?
Eye drops can be incredibly expensive. Do you want to know some tips for saving money on eye drops?
There are plenty of Canadian International Pharmacy Association (CIPA) certified online pharmacies such as Canada Online Health that can provide safety and affordable medications from trusted sources around the world.
Each CIPA pharmacy member is licensed and regulated by the government for safety. CIPA sells prescription medications made by the leading name-brand manufacturers at prices up to 80 percent less than U.S.
Reference:
- webmd.com
- mayoclinic.org
- epso.ca
- canadaonlinehealth.com
This article contains medical information provided to help you better understand this medical condition or process and may contain information about medication often used as part of a treatment plan prescribed by a doctor. It is not intended to be used as either a diagnosis or recommendation for treatment of your medical situation. If you are unwell, concerned about your physical or mental state, or are experiencing symptoms you should speak with your doctor or primary health care provider. If you are in medical distress, please contact emergency services (such as 911).