Recent Trends In the Topical MedicalTreatment of Glaucoma

Abstract

Glaucoma is an international public health issue and it is one of the leading causes of blindness, worldwide. The diagnosis of glaucoma requires an extensive occular examination as it consists of a group of occular diseases causing optic disc cupping and visual field loss.

But in most of cases blindness can be avoided by early detection and treatment. (Whitaker, eta!., 1998).

Medication classes historically used in the management of glaucoma include 13-blockers, miotics, sympathomimetics and oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.

Recently introduced agents for glaucoma therapy include topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, the more specific a-agonists and the prostaglandin analogue. These newer agents lower the intraocclar pressure by statistically significant degree. (Lewis, et a!., 1999).