Dorzolamide hydrochloride (Trusopt - Merck), a thienothio-pyran-2-sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in a 2% ophthalmic solution for treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma.

Metipranolol hydrocholride 0.3% (OptiPranolol - Bausch & Lomb), a nonselective beta-adrenergic receptor blocking drug, was recently marketed of ophthalmic use to decrease intraolular pressure in ocular hypertension or chronic open-angle glaucoma. Beta-blockers available in the USA for treatment of glaucoma are listed in this article.

Lantaoprost, a prostaglandin F2-alpha analog, has been approved by the FDA for topical treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension refractory to other drugs.

Betaxolol (Kerlone - Searle), an oral beta-adrenergic blocker, was recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for once-daily treatment of hypertension. The new drug is beta 1 (cardio)-selective with no intrinsic sympathomimetic (partial agonist) activity. It is also available in a topical formulation for treatment of glaucoma (Betoptic - Medical Letter, 28:45, 1986). Beta-blockers currently available in the USA for treatment of hypertension are listed in the table below.

Brimonidine tartrate 0.2% ophthalmic solution (Alphagan - Allergan), a selective alpha2-adrenergic agonist, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment of increased intraocular pressure due to open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension and for its prevention in patients undergoing argon laser trabeculoplasty.

The FDA has approved Simbrinza (Alcon), an ophthalmic combination of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor brinzolamide and the selective alpha₂-adrenergic receptor agonist brimonidine, for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Simbrinza is the first product to combine drugs from these 2 classes.

Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy associated with increased intraocular pressure (IOP; normal range 8-22 mm Hg), which is the only disease-related factor that can be modified. Topical drugs that lower IOP are the first line of treatment for open-angle glaucoma.

The FDA has approved two new ophthalmic drugs for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: latanoprostene bunod (Vyzulta – Bausch and Lomb), a modified prostaglandin analog, and netarsudil (VRhopressa – Aerie), the first Rho kinase inhibitor to be approved in the US.

This issue includes reviews of drugs for glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), bacterial conjunctivitis, and dry eye disease. Allergic conjunctivitis is reviewed in a separate issue.