What does the first line of glaucoma treatment look like?

Glaucoma is often treated with either oral or topical medication such as eye drops. These work to reduce intraocular pressure by increasing the amount of fluid drainage from the eye or by reducing the amount of fluid produced within the eye. Oral glaucoma medications may also be prescribed. Oral medications may be used in conjunction with topical medications to reduce intraocular pressure. Typically, medications are intended to reduce elevated intraocular pressure and prevent damage to the optic nerve. Our glaucoma eye doctors may prescribe a combination of medications or change your prescription over time to reduce side effects or provide a more effective treatment.

Eye drops are sometimes hard to put in the eye. It is okay to have a friend or family member help you administer an eye drop. It does not matter which part of the eye that the eye drop touches, as long as it gets onto the eye (hitting the eye lid is NOT enough)! Sometimes people find eye drops so comfortable that they don’t actually know if the eye drop has touched their eye or not. If you are having trouble with this, you may decide to put the drop in your refrigerator. Drops do not require refrigeration, but it may be easier to determine whether a cold eye drop has actually touched your eye or not compared to an eye drop which is at room temperature.

Most eye drops may sting or burn when placed in the eye. This does not mean that they are not working or that they are bad for you. It just means that some people may find a specific eye drop more comfortable than others.

Prescription eye drop medications include:

Prostaglandins analogs. These increase the outflow of the fluid in your eye (aqueous humor) and reduce pressure in your eye. Examples include latanoprost (Xalatan) and bimatoprost (Lumigan).
Beta blockers. These reduce the production of fluid in your eye, thereby lowering the pressure in your eye (intraocular pressure). Examples include timolol (Betimol, Timoptic) and betaxolol (Betoptic).
Alpha-adrenergic agonists. These reduce the production of aqueous humor and increase outflow of the fluid in your eye. Examples include apraclonidine (Iopidine) and brimonidine (Alphagan).
Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. These medications reduce the production of fluid in your eye. Examples of topical forms include dorzolamide (Trusopt) and brinzolamide (Azopt). Oral formulation include acetazolamide or Diamox.
Miotic or cholinergic agents. These increase the outflow of fluid from your eye. An example is pilocarpine (Isopto Carpine).

Glaucoma providers

Robert J. Noecker, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Thomas D'Orazio, MD, PhD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist & Cataract Surgeon
Brett J. Karlik, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Adam Botwinick, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Sahas Narain, MD Cornea, Laser Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Todd J. Harvey, MD Ophthalmologist
Craig H. Marcus, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Marc S. Werner, MD Ophthalmologist
Daniel D. Hayes, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Marc E. Wietschner, MD, FAAO Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Medical and Surgical Treatment of Eye Disease
Adam Bloom, MD, FAAO Comprehensive Ophthalmologist & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Steven J. Kanoff, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
James Thimons, OD, FAAO Optometrist
Robert F. Rothman, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Nicholas Xanthos, OD Optometrist
Richard J. Mackool, MD Cataract, Refractive, Cornea and Glaucoma Microsurgery
Ilya Rozenbaum, MD Glaucoma and Laser Cataract Surgery
Paul Krawitz, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Arnold S. Prywes, MD, FACS Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
R. J. Mackool, MD Cataract, Refractive, Cornea and Glaucoma Microsurgery
Christopher Holt, OD Optometrist
Stuart B. Carter, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist & Refractive Cataract Surgeon
Tal Ben Ami, MD Medical and Surgical Management of the Retina, Vitreous, and Macula
Joshua A. Paul, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Richard T. Sturm, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
David M. Armesto, MD, FACS Cornea, Laser Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Allison Angelilli, MD, FACS Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Dr. Charles Niles, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Howard J. Kushnick, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist & Glaucoma Surgeon
Allison B. Gunzburg, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Laser Cataract and Refractive Surgeon
Adrian N. Crichton, OD Optometrist
Himakshi Bhatt, OD Optometrist
Dennis Slochower, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
John Siliquini, Jr., MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Laser Cataract & Refractive Surgeon
Luis Silva, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Anzhelika Vaccaro, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Mary Ann Bonomo Hosey, OD Optometrist
Troy J. Hosey, OD Optometrist
Kinnari Patel, OD Optometrist
John R. Dailey, MD Ophthalmologist
Brian Moore, OD Optometrist
Vivian Monsanto, MD Ophthalmologist
Rebecca Knorr-Peters, OD Optometrist
John P. Nairn, MD Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
David B. Nelson, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Joseph Berardi, MD Laser Cataract Surgeon
Ashley Russell, OD Optometrist
Cristin D. Subramaniam, MD Cataract Surgeon, Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Valerie Trubnik, MD, FACS Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Bonny Lee, MD Glaucoma & Refractive Cataract Surgeon, Comprehensive Ophthalmologist
Ronald M. Caronia, MD, FACS Glaucoma & Laser Cataract Surgeon
Glen Weiss, MD Comprehensive Ophthalmologist, Laser Cataract Surgeon
George Grisnik, OD Optometrist

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Since you arrived you will be attended by great staff. They do a complete eye exam. They are very careful with the cleaning of every machine before you use it. You don’t have to wait too long in order to see the doctor who by the way is very clear to explain your condition. He is very professional and polite. I will highly recommend this place. Let me know if you have any questions or need anything else.

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The entire staff is cordial and competent. Appropriate questions are asked and answered. One can feel very confident in the treatment offered.

Merle Price
The staff are very professional and thorough. I have confidence in the doctors.

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By far, the best group of Drs. in the industry. I have seen 3 of their Drs. and they were all above and beyond!! If you have any eye issues they will greatly help you with their great knowledge and compassion!! Would recommend OCLI over and over again!!

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The whole process was easy from setting up the appointment to checking in to the exam. Great front office staff, technicians, and doctors!

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What does the first line of glaucoma treatment look like?

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