α‐adrenoceptor agonist |
Adrenaline, apraclonidine, brimonidine |
AQH Inflow suppression and increase uveoscleral outflow |
Adrenaline used historically; brimonidine widely used today |
β‐adrenoceptor antagonists (β blockers) |
Timolol, betaxolol, levobunolol |
AQH Inflow suppression |
Widely used; can induce bradycardia; contra‐indicated in asthmatics |
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors |
Dorzolamide, brinzolamide |
AQH Inflow suppression |
Systemic acetazolamide and methazolamide used historically, currently used for acute IOP control instead of chronic therapy |
ACh muscarinic receptor agonists |
Pilocarpine, carbachol |
Increase conventional outflow of AQH |
The oldest medical therapy for glaucoma, use limited by four times a day dosing and ocular side effects |
PG analogues |
Latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost, tafluprost |
Increase uveoscleral, and also conventional, outflow of AQH |
The most widely used, most potent, and most efficacious drug class, additionally enabling once‐a‐day dosing |