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Abstract #15953 Published in IGR 2-3
Choosing initial and combination medical therapy for glaucoma
Wigginton SA; Higginbotham EJOphthalmology Clinics of North America 2000; 13: 417-427
With the advent of multiple new medications for the treatment of glaucoma and the utility of early ALT as an adjunctive therapy early in the progression of glaucoma, the clinician has the tools necessary to control the visual field loss and optic nerve changes characteristic of glaucoma. Beta blockers, latanoprost, fixed combination timolol 0.5% and dorzolamide 2%, and brimonidine have become the first-line treatment for patients newly diagnosed with glaucoma. For additional IOP reduction, supplementing the initial agent with a secondary drug in another category that compliments the action of the first drug is an effective way to manage patients. Compliance and cost are important factors in the treatment of glaucoma; simplification of topical medications to once or twice daily will have a greater chance of reaching the IOP goal. Neuroprotection will likely change the way glaucoma is treated. A single medication, topical or oral, with optimal IOP reduction and neuroprotection and lacking any serious side-effects, would probably be the perfect glaucoma agent. Until then, clinicians have an array of effective choices in the treatment of glaucoma.
Dr. E.J. Higginbotham, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, 419 W. Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA
Classification:
11.1 General management, indication (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)
