{"id":17762,"date":"2021-10-03T18:01:45","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T18:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=17762"},"modified":"2021-10-03T18:01:45","modified_gmt":"2021-10-03T18:01:45","slug":"glaucoma-how-do-eye-drops-work","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/glaucoma-guide\/how-is-glaucoma-treated\/glaucoma-how-do-eye-drops-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Glaucoma: How Do Eye Drops Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Glaucoma eye drops are the most frequently prescribed treatment for glaucoma.<\/b><\/h2>\n

When a patient is diagnosed with glaucoma<\/a>, eye doctors often prescribe eye drops to decrease the eye pressure that leads to optic nerve damage and permanent vision loss.<\/p>\n

The type of glaucoma<\/a>, its severity at time of diagnosis, the target pressure the doctor intends to achieve, and the patient’s overall health all influence which medication the doctor prescribes.<\/p>\n

If one type of eye drop doesn\u2019t sufficiently lower the patient\u2019s eye pressure<\/a>, the eye doctor will add another type of eye drop, switch to new eye drops, or even combine two different medications in one bottle.<\/p>\n

The five most common\u00a0 types of eye drops used to treat glaucoma are listed below.<\/p>\n

Types of glaucoma eye drops<\/b><\/h2>\n

Eye drops are usually the first step in glaucoma treatment<\/a>. They’re utilized to assist in the drainage of fluid from the eye. They may also help to reduce the amount of fluid produced by the eye.<\/p>\n

There are various types of eye drops to choose from:<\/p>\n

Prostaglandin analogs<\/b><\/h3>\n

These drops relieve ocular pressure by increasing the amount of fluid that drains from your eyes through the drainage canals.<\/p>\n

Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, Tafluprost and Travoprost are examples of this type of eye drop.<\/p>\n

Side effects might include:<\/p>\n