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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brinzolamide (Azopt - Alcon), a thieno-thiazine-6-sulfonamide carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, has been approved by the FDA in a 1% ophthalmic suspension for treatment of elevated intraocular pressure due to ocular hypertension or open-angle glaucoma. Brinzolamide is the second FDA-approved topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor. Dorzolamide (Trusopt) was approved earlier (Medical Letter, 37:76, 1995).

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.

The FDA has approved iDose TR (Glaukos), an intracameral implant containing the prostaglandin analog (PGA) travoprost, for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Travoprost is also available as a topical ophthalmic solution (Travatan Z, and generics) for the same indication. iDose TR is the second ocular implant to become available in the US for this indication; Durysta, an intracameral implant containing the prostaglandin analog bimatoprost, was the first.

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 an intracameral implant containing the prostaglandin analog bimatoprost (Durysta – Allergan) for reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Bimatoprost is also available in 0.01% (Lumigan) and 0.03% (generics) ophthalmic solutions for the same indication and in a 0.03% solution (Latisse, and generics) for eyelash enhancement. Durysta is the first ocular implant to become available in the US for treatment of glaucoma.