Table 1.

Current treatment drugs for POAG¹⁹–²⁶

Drug class	Drug and daily frequency	Route	Mechanism of action	Side effects in class
Prostaglandin analogs	Latanoprost 1x	Topical	Increased trabecular drainage	Eye lash thickening, eye lid darkening, eye staining
	Travoprost 1x
	Unoprostone 2x
	Bimatoprost 1x
Beta blockers	Betaxolol 2x (selective)	Topical	Decreased aqueous fluid production	Eye irritation, hyperemia, blurred vision, impaired lung function
	Carteolol 2x
	Timolol 1–2x
	Levobunolol 1–2x
Diuretics (carbonic anhydrase inhibitors)	Brinzolamide 3x	Topical	Decreased aqueous fluid production via HCO3− unavailability	Blurred vision, bitter taste, acidosis, hepatic necrosis
	Dorzolamide 3x
	Acetazolamide 2–4x	Oral
	Methazolamide 2–3x
Cholinomimetics	Carbachol 3x	Topical	Open the TM by contraction of ciliary muscle forces	Night blindness, blurred vision, burning eye sensation
	Pilocarpine 3–4x	DOG
	Physostigmine 1–4x	Plastic film
Alpha agonists (selective)	Epinephrine 1–2x	Topical	Increased trabecular flow	Tremor
	Dipivefrin 2x			Palpitation
Alpha agonists (non-selective)	Brimonidinea 3x	Topical	Reduced aqueous production and increased uveoscleral flow	Hyperemia, allergic conjunctivitis, itching, lacrimation
	Apraclonidineb 3x

Notes:

^aBrimonidine has a dual mechanism of action;

^bapraclonidine only reduces aqueous production.

Abbreviations: POAG, primary open-angle glaucoma; DOG, drops, ointment, gel.