Medical Management
The information below explains how uveitis specialists treat ocular hypertension and glaucoma.
Medical Management of Ocular Hypertension & Glaucoma
Uveitis patients with ocular hypertension use glaucoma drops to lower intraocular pressure. This greatly decreases their risk of developing glaucoma. For some patients, the use of this medication is temporary – when the cause of raised intraocular pressure is identified and eliminated, pressure may return to normal and treatment no longer be needed.
Types of Glaucoma Drops
Glaucoma patients use drops to lower pressure to slow the progression of their disease and prevent loss of sight.
Glaucoma drops are formulated to decrease aqueous production, increase aqueous outflow or do both of these jobs at the same time. Some drops are a single medication, others a combination of medications. Some are used once a day, others twice a day and some more frequently. It is important to use them as directed by the doctor. These drops do have systemic side effects and punctal occlusion (pressing the eye lids together over the tear duct) helps to reduce these.
Drops and Pills to Decrease Aqueous Production
Beta Blockers: Timolol, Betagan, Betoptic
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: Trusopt, Azopt (drops) and Diamox and Neptazane (pills).
Drops to Increase Aqueous Outflow
Prostaglandin analogs: Xalatan, Lumigan, Travatan (used with care in uveitis patients)
Drops to Decrease Aqueous Production and Increase Aqueous Outflow
Alpha agonists: Alphgan, Iopidine
Combined Drops
Cosopt: a combination of Timolol and Trusopt.
Combigan: a combination of Alphagan and Timolol