Review on Commonly used Medical Therapies for Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is a multipart disorder which leads to continuous degeneration of the optic nerve leading to partial or total blindness. Topical medications are the most common form of therapy to patients. All medication used in glaucoma acts either decreasing the production of aqueous humour and/or by enhancing its outflow, which aids in reducing intra ocular pressure. Medications that cause a decline in aqueous humor secretion are beta-blockers, a2 agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. While medications that enhances aqueous drainage include Cholinergic agonists, prostaglandin analogues and adrenergic agonists. Amongst all the drugs, latanoprost and its combinations offer the highest reduction in intra-ocular pressure, but its instability at room temperature is a major drawback to patients. All types of alternative therapy are still at an initial stage, and there are various scopes of development, and further clinical studies will provide more insight. And surgical procedures, which are mainly Argon laser trabeculoplasty and Selective laser trabeculoplasty, are currently preferred, which provides effective results for the patients, but it is not very suitable for all the patients, and there are a few post-operative complications. Thus, modern research on the reduction of dose, precise drug delivery and sustained reduction of IOP shall help in improvising the medications of glaucoma and help mankind from this serious vision-threatening disease.