Glaucoma Treatments:
Eye Drops & Medications

Most glaucoma treatments are designed to lower and/or control intraocular pressure (IOP) or eye pressure. Glaucoma eye drops are usually the first step for treatment before glaucoma surgery. If you are a good candidate for glaucoma eye drops, you may be prescribed a few types to achieve the best results. In fact, combinations of glaucoma eye drops can enhance the effects of other types.

You may not be a good candidate for glaucoma eye drops if you have poor health. Certain functions, such as heart rate and breathing, may be adversely affected due to small percentages of the active ingredient of the glaucoma medication entering the bloodstream. Be sure to discuss with these issues with your physician and eye doctor.

Types of Glaucoma Eye Drops

Glaucoma eye drops are categorized by the active chemical ingredient that helps make the drug work. The various types are as follow:

  • Prostaglandins: Xalatan (Pfizer), Lumigan (Allergan), Travatan Z (Alcon), and Rescula (Novartis)
  • Beta-blockers: Timoptic XE (Merck), Istalol (ISTA), and Betoptic S (Alcon)
  • Alpha-adrenergic agonists: Iopidine (Alcon), Alphagan (Allergan). and Alphagan-P (Allergan)
  • Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Trusopt (Merck) and Azopt (Alcon)
  • Parasympathomimetics
  • Epinephrine
  • Hyperosmotic agents

As with many medications, some of these medicated eye drops have side effects. Those using prostaglandins, for example, may experience stinging and burning during use and a darkening of their natural eye color.

Glaucoma Investigational Treatments

Some experimental glaucoma medications explore new ways of controlling IOP; whereas, other treatments are aimed at protecting the optic nerve (neuroprotection). Some investigational treatments are still under FDA clinical trials in order to prove safety and effectiveness.

There is a debate over the use of marijuana as an alternative method for treating glaucoma, as no research has found that marijuana is more effective than legal glaucoma medications currently available on the market. Read more about marijuana and glaucoma.

For recent news on glaucoma treatments, visit the Glaucoma News section of the Consumer Guide to Glaucoma.