Glaucoma Medications

Another major category of ophthalmic drugs are medications used to treat glaucoma. Glaucoma causes increased fluid pressure inside the eye that can damage the optic nerve over time if not treated. The main goal of glaucoma treatment is to lower intraocular pressure using eye drops, oral medications, laser treatment, or surgery. Common classes of glaucoma eye drops are prostaglandin analogs, beta blockers, alpha agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, and combination medications. Prostaglandin analogs like latanoprost, travoprost and bimatoprost work by enhancing outflow of aqueous humor from the eye. Beta blockers like timolol function by decreasing fluid production inside the eye. Alpha agonists such as brimonidine lower pressure by reducing fluid inflow. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like dorzolamide and brinzolamide decrease fluid secretion. These medications slow glaucoma progression when taken as prescribed.

Anti-infectives

Treating bacterial, viral or fungal eye infections also requires appropriate Ophthalmic Drugs. Antibiotic eye drops are frequently required to clear infections caused by bacteria. Common topical antibiotics prescribed include chloramphenicol, moxifloxacin, ciprofloxacin, erythromycin and bacitracin. Anti-viral eye drops may be needed for conditions such as herpes keratitis or adenoviral conjunctivitis. Popular antiviral medications are trifluridine, ganciclovir and acyclovir. Occasionally, anti-fungal drops are necessary for managing fungal infections on the surface of the eye. Common anti-fungal drops used are natamycin and voriconazole. The right anti-infective must be chosen based on culture and sensitivity results identifying the culprit organism. Treatment length depends on how quickly signs and symptoms resolve with medication.

Anti-allergy Medications

Allergic conjunctivitis, a very common eye problem, often responds well to anti-allergy eye drops. These medications work to relieve itching, redness and other ocular allergy symptoms. Mast cell stabilizers like cromolyn sodium and lodoxamide tromethamine prevent the degranulation of mast cells that trigger allergic reactions. H-1 receptor blockers such as azelastine, olopatadine, emedastine and levocabastine block the effects of histamine released during allergic response. These anti-allergy drops are usually prescribed for mild to moderate allergic conjunctivitis but steroids may be needed for more severe cases. Oral antihistamines are also beneficial for treating allergic reactions involving both eyes. Combined therapy provides the most complete relief from itchy, red and watery eyes caused by allergies.

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