Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. According to a study by the National Eye Institute, "the leading cause of blindness among white persons was age-related macular degeneration (54.4% of the cases), while among black persons, cataract and glaucoma accounted for more than 60% of blindness." (https://nei.nih.gov/eyedata/pbd1)
Diabetic retinopathy is also a leading cause of blindness among U.S. adults (all ages). Worldwide, it is cataracts that cause the most cases of blindness.
Glaucoma is caused by a build-up of fluid in the eye that eventually damages the optic nerve, causing loss of peripheral vision and possible blindness if left untreated. There are many variations of the disease, which include congenital and childhood (juvenile) glaucoma. The most common type (90% of cases) strikes older patients and is called "open-angle glaucoma." In this type, symptoms develop slowly and may not be noticed for a long time. The drainage canals in the eyes begin to drain slowly and become clogged. It is also characterized by a wide and open angle between the iris and cornea.
A diagram of an eye with open-angle glaucoma along with more information is available from the: Glaucoma Research Foundation.
Treatments for glaucoma may involve eye drop medications that decrease eye pressure, laser surgery, and conventional surgery.
Here are the eye drop medications that are commonly used to treat glaucoma, along with links to reviews of the drugs in the AskaPatient database. Average patient rating scores are included in the second column (5=highly effective, 1=not effective). Click drug name to read patient reviews. The most common, first-line treatment eye drop medications are the Prostaglandin analogs.
| Drug | Rating |
| Prostaglandin Analogs | |
| lowers eye pressure by increasing outflow of eye fluid | |
| Side effects may include blurred vision, dryness, upper and lower eyelid drooping, changes in iris color, discoloration of eyelid skin, growth of eyelashes |
|
| XALATAN | 3.2 |
| (LATANOPROST) | |
| LUMIGAN* | 3.0 |
| (BIMATOPROST) | |
| Vyzulta (LATANOPROSTENE BUNOD) 2017 approval |
|
| Beta Blockers | |
| lowers eye pressure by decreasing production of fluid | |
| Side effects may include low blood pressure, fatigue, shortness of breath | |
| TIMOPTIC-XE | 4.3 |
| (TIMOLOL MALEATE) | |
| BETAGAN | 5.0 |
| (LEVOBUNOLOL HYDROCHLORIDE) | |
| TIMOLOL MALEATE | 4.0 |
| (TIMOLOL MALEATE) - review summary | |
| Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors | |
| lowers eye pressure by decreasing production of fluid in the eye | |
| side effects may include stinging, loss of appetite, taste changes | |
| TRUSOPT | 2.4 |
| (DORZOLAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE) | |
| AZOPT | 2.3 |
| (BRINZOLAMIDE) | |
| Alpha Adrenergic Agonists | |
| lowers eye pressure by decreasing production of fluid in the eye and increasing outflow | |
| side effects may include fatigue, blurry vision, high blood pressure, burning | |
| ALPHAGAN | 1.7 |
| (BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE) | |
| Combination Drugs | |
| combination of two or more of the above drugs | |
| COMBIGAN | 2.3 |
| (BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE; TIMOLOL MALEATE) | |
| COSOPT | 2.0 |
| (DORZOLAMIDE HYDROCHLORIDE; TIMOLOL MALEATE) | |
