Medical Management for Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
From EyeWiki
Contents |
Summary
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology Preferred Practice Patterns, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is defined as an optic neuropathy with associated visual field loss for which elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk factor. As a result, most of our treatment strategies are directed at reducing IOP, either with medical therapy, laser surgery, or incisional surgery, with medical therapy being the most common initial course of treatment. Two important questions often confront a glaucoma specialist when initiating therapy: Who needs to be treated? and How should a patient be treated and to what extent? With advent of newer drugs with improved efficacy, reduced frequency of dosing, and fewer ocular and systemic side effects, our treatment options have been expanded. While it is important to have more choices, it also adds confusion as to which medication may be best suited for a particular patient. In general, the goal of treatment is to choose a therapeutic agent that is effective, safe, tolerable, and affordable to ensure patient acceptance and adherence. This brief review provides a summary of various classes of drugs available at present for glaucoma treatment. Their mechanisms of action and side effects are described to help clinicians choose primary therapy or adjunctive therapy to lower IOP and to ultimately slow down the progression of glaucoma to preserve visual function.
Disease Entity
Glaucoma refers to a group of disorders which causes progressive optic neuropathy with the major risk factor being elevated intraocular pressure. Glaucoma can exist at any level of intraocular pressure; however, prevalence increases with uncontrolled IOP affecting the optic nerve and resulting in subsequent loss of visual function. Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide and the 2nd leading cause of blindness in the United States.
Disease
Primary open angle glaucoma is characterized by the presence of an anatomically open angle on gonioscopy; chartacteristic optic nerve changes, such as cupping and/or thinning or the neuroretinal rim; and characteristic patterns of viual field loss.
According to the Preferred Practice Patterns of AAO, two of the three findings (elevated IOP, optic nerve damage, or visual field loss) must be present for the diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma.
Risk Factors
Family history, Age, Race (Increased prevelance in African American population, Ocular Conditions (increased intraocular pressure, thin central corneal thickness). Other possible risk factors include: perfusion pressure, coronary artery disease, diabetes, myopia
Pathophysiology
Not entirely understood. Two commonly discussed theories are:
1) Mechanical theory -direct pressure induced-damage to the retinal ganglion cell axons at the level of the lamina cribrosa.
2) Vascular theory -microvascular changes and resultant ischemia in the optic nerve head.
Primary prevention
The only way we currently know to prevent and/or delay primary open angle glaucoma is by reducing the intraocular pressure.
Diagnosis
POAG is diagnosed by taking a comprehensive history, clincal exam, and visual field testing. Optic nerve and nerve fiber layer imaging by Heidelberg retinal tomography (HRT), optical coherence tomography(OCT), or laser scanning polarimetry (GDx) can aid in the evaluation and diagnosis.
Signs
Elevated Intraocular pressure, corneal edema (typically only seen with acutley elevated IOP), optic nerve asymmetry, optic nerve cupping, neuroretinal rim thinning/notch
Symptoms
Symptoms are typically only experienced with acutly elevated IOP or with advaced optic nerve damage, resulting in visual field loss.
Clinical diagnosis
Comprehensive eye exam including evaluation of: visual acuity, afferent pupillary defect, gonioscopy, slit lamp exam, dilated fundoscopic exam, confrontation visual fields (later confirmed by standard automated perimetry)
Differential diagnosis
• Physiologic optic nerve cupping: Typically normal IOP, large optic nerves, and static appearance
• Congenital disc anomalies: optic nerve coloboma, congenital pit, and tilted disc syndrome
• Average (Normal) Tension Glaucoma
• Ocular hypertension (high IOP in the presence of normal optic nerves and visual field)
• Secondary open-angle glaucoma: e.g. pseudoexfoliation, pigmentary, steroid induced, lens particle, etc
• Previous glaucomatous damage: Due to prior episodes of elevated intraocular pressure, e.g. from trauma, uveitis, steroid use, that have resolved. IOP is normal and optic nerve appearance remains static.
•Acquired conditions: e.g. arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, compressive lesions such as intracranial aneurysm (characteristic patterns on the visual field testing help to distinguish glaucoma from various neurological diseases)
Management
Current treatment of glaucoma is limited to lowering the intraocular pressure to a level that will decrease the likelihood of further optic nerve damage. Most ophthalmologists initially try medical management or laser trabeculoplasty (ALT or SLT). If conservative therapy fails, then incisional surgery with either trabeculectomy or glaucoma drainage implant may be required. Once the decision to treat has been made, one has to decide how much to treat. Factors such as age of patient, life expectancy, and other risk factors must be kept in mind. It is essential to obtain a full history of concomitant systemic diseases to avoid side effects. The goal of treatment should be preservation of vision as well as quality of life.
General treatment
Glaucoma clinical trials over the past 20 years have provided critically important, evidence-based guidelines in the management of patients with glaucoma. Whether treatment is provided with medical therapy, laser, or surgery, these trials have shown that glaucoma development and progression can be controlled by lowering IOP, a well-established risk factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy. IOP lowering has been found to be beneficial even in eyes with normal tension glaucoma. The Collaborative Normal Tension Study Group found that a 30% IOP reduction dropped the rate of progression from 35% in the observation group to 12% in the treated group. The Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial (EMGT) found that an IOP reduction by at least 25% reduced progression from 62 %to 45% in the treated group compared to an untreated group. Setting an initial target of 20-30% IOP reduction is recommended, however it is very important to constantly reassess for optic nerve or visual field changes, and change target pressure, as needed.
Medical therapy
The medications currently used to treat glaucoma work by lowering the intraocular pressure by two main mechanisms 1) reducing aqueous humor production and/or 2) increasing aqueous humor outflow.
MEDICATIONS THAT SUPPRESS AQEUOUS HUMOR PRODUCTION
Beta Blockers
Mechanism of action: Lower IOP by suppressing aqueous humor production. They inhibit synthesis of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (c-AMP) in the ciliary epithelium and lead to a decrease in aqueous secretion.
Side Effects: Ocular side effects of topical beta-blockers are minor and include burning and decreased corneal sensation. Systemic side effects can be more severe. They include bradycardia; arrhythmia; heart failure; heart block; syncope; bronchospasm or airway obstruction; central nervous system effects (depression, weakness, fatigue, or hallucinations); impotence, and elevation of blood cholesterol levels. Topical beta-blockers have been shown to decrease HDL and increase cholesterol. Diabetics as may experience reduced glucose tolerance and hypoglycemic signs and symptoms can be masked. Beta-blockers may aggravate myasthenia gravis and abrupt withdrawal can exacerbate symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The beta-1 selective antagonist, betaxolol, has fewer pulmonary side effects.
Adrenergic Agonists
Mechanism of action: Lower IOP through alpha 2 agonist mediated aqueous suppression and a secondary mechanism that increases aqueous outflow.
Nonselective adrenergic agonists such as epinephrine lower IOP by several different mechanisms. Initially, a vasoconstrictive effect decreases aqueous production and c-AMP synthesis increases the outflow facility.
Side Effects: Ocular side effects include follicular conjunctivitis, burning, reactive hyperemia, adrenochrome deposits, mydriasis, maculopathy in aphakic eyes, corneal endothelial damage, and ocular hypoxia. Systemic side effects include hypertension, tachycardia and arrhythmia. Dipivefrin is a prodrug that is hydrolyzed to epinephrine as it traverses the cornea. It has significantly fewer systemic side effects than epinephrine. The potential side effects of nonselective adrenergic agonists has led to decline in their use.
Selective adrenergic agonists include apraclonidine and brimonidine (0.1-0.2%) with the latter having much greater selectivity at the alpha 2 receptor.
Brimonidine (0.1-0.2%) appears to also increase uveoscleral outflow and lower IOP by about 26%.
Side Effects of selective adrenergic agonists: Common ocular side effects include contact dermatitis (40% with apraclonidine, < 15% for brimonidine, and <0.2% for brimonidine-Purite), follicular conjunctivitis, eyelid retraction, mydriasis, and conjunctival blanching. Systemically, they can cause headache, dry mouth, fatigue, bradycardia, and hypotension. Long-term use of topical apraclonidine is frequently associated with allergy and tachyphylaxis. The use of brimonidine is contraindicated in infants and young children (especially those with low body weight) due to an increased risk of somnolence, hypotension, seizures, and apnea, believed to be due to increased CNS penetration of the drug secondary to high lipophilicity. Generally, brimonidine seems to produce fewer ocular side effects than apraclonidine.
Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors (CAI)
Mechanism of action: Lower IOP by decreasing aqueous production by direct antagonist activity on the ciliary epithelial carbonic anhydrase. Over 90% of ciliary epithelial enzyme activity needs to be abolished to decrease aqueous production and lower IOP. Systemic CAI include acetazolamide (Diamox) and methazolamide (Neptazane). Topical CAI are brinzolamide 1% (Azopt) and dorzolamide 2% (Trusopt). A 14-17% reduction in IOP is seen with these agents.
Side Effects: Systemic CAI are associated with numerous side effects, including transient myopia; parasthesia of the fingers, toes, and perioral area; urinary frequency; metabolic acidosis; malaise; fatigue; weight loss; depression; potassium depletion; gastrointestinal symptoms; renal calculi formation; and rarely, blood dyscrasia. Due to the side effects of the systemic CAI, they are most useful in acute situations or as a temporizing measure before surgical intervention. The topical CAI have significantly fewer systemic side effects than oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and have been reported to have clinical efficacy comparable to that of timolol. Common side effects of topical CAI include bitter taste, blurred vision, punctate keratopathy, and lassitude.
Prostaglandin Analogs
Mechanism of action: Lower IOP by increasing aqueous outflow through the unconventional outflow pathway or uveoscleral outflow. The exact mechanism by which prostaglandins improve uveoscleral outflow is not full understood, but may involve relaxation of the ciliary muscle and remodelling of the extracellular matrix elements of the ciliary muscle. These agents have been shown to increase the outflow by as much as 50%.
Latanoprost and travaprost, and bimataprost (prostamide), represent the newest, the most effective, and most commonly used class of medications. Latanoprost 0.005% and travaprost 0.004% are pro-drugs that penetrate the cornea and become biologically active after being hydrolyzed by corneal esterases. Bimataprost 0.03% decreases IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow by 50% and increasing trabecular outflow by approximately 25-30%. Both latanoprost and travaprost reduce IOP by approximately 25-30%.
Side Effects: Ocular and systemic side effects such as conjunctival injection, hypertrichosis, trichiasis, hyperpigmentation of periocular skin and hair growth around the eyes are generally were well-tolerated. These tend to be reversible with cessation of the drug. A unique side effect is increased iris pigmentation which is thought to be secondary to increased melanin content in the iris stromal mealnocytes without proliferation of cells. This tends to occur in 10-20% of blue irides within 18-24 months of initiating therapy, and 60% eyes with mixed green-brown or blue-brown irides. Use of prostaglandin analogs and prostamides have also been associated with exacerbations of herpes keratitis, anterior uveitis, and cystoid macular edema in susceptible individuals.
Photos Courtesy of Anjana Jindal, MD, Wills Eye Hospital
Parasympathomimetic Agonists
Mechanism of action: Lower IOP by increasing aqueous outflow related to contraction of the ciliary muscle in eyes with open angles and pupillary constriction in cases of pupillary block glaucoma.
Topical cholinergic agonists such as pilocarpine cause contraction of the longitudinal ciliary muscle, which pulls the scleral spur to tighten the trabecular meshwork, increasing outflow of aqueous humor. This results in a 15-25% reduction in IOP. The direct agents (pilocarpine) are cholinergic receptor agonists; the indirect agents (echothiophate iodide) inhibit cholinesterase and prolong the action of native acetylcholine. Carbachol is a mixed direct agonist/acetylcholine releasing agent.
Side Effects: Systemic side effects of pilocarpine are rare; however, ocular side effects are common. Ocular side effects include brow ache, induced myopia, miosis (leading to decreased vision), shallowing of the anterior chamber, retinal detachment, corneal endothelial toxicity, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, hypersensitivity or toxic reaction, cicatricial pemphigoid of the conjunctiva, and atypical band keratopathy. The indirect agents have ocular side effects that are generally more intense than those of the direct agents. In addition, indirect agents can cause iris cysts in children and cataract in adults. Finally, prolonged respiratory paralysis may occur during general anesthesia in patients who are on cholinesterase inhibitors because of their inability to metabolize paralytic agents such as succinylcholine. The use of cholinergic agents has declined in recent years with the availability of newer medications that have comparable efficacy and fewer side effects.
COMBINATION MEDICATIONS Fixed combination medications offer the potential advantage of increased convenience, compliance, efficacy, and cost. In the US there are currently 2 fixed-combination medications on the market, (1) Dorzolamide hydrochloride 2% and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Cosopt, now generic) and (2) Brimonidine tartrate 0.2% and timolol maleate ophthalmic solution 0.5% (Combigan). Prior to initiating monotherapy with a fixed-combination medication, it is important to prove the efficacy of the individual components of the medications. The efficacy and ocular side effects for both fixed-combination medications are similar to their individual components. The efficacy and tolerability of both dorzolamide hydrochloride-timolol maleate 2%/0.5% and brimonidine tartrate-timolol maleate 0.2%/0.5% appear to be similar to each other.
HYPEROSMOTIC AGENTS
Hyperosmotic agents such as oral glycerine and intravenous mannitol can rapidly lower IOP by decreasing vitreous volume. They do not cross the blood-ocular barrier and therefore exert oncotic pressure that dehydrates the vitreous. Side effects associated with the hyperosmotic agents can be severe and include headache, back pain, diuresis, circulatory overload with angina, pulmonary edema and heart failure, and central nervous system effects such as obtundation, seizure, and cerebral hemorrhage. Because of these potentially serious side effects, they are not used as long-term agents. They are typically used in acute situations to temporarily reduce high IOP until more definitive treatments can be rendered.
SUMMARY OF GLAUCOMA MEDICATIONS
| Class | Brand Name | Strength/Concentration | Dosing | IOP Reduction | Mechanism of Action | Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prostaglandin Analogs | ||||||
| Bimataprost | Lumigan | 0.03 % | qhs | 27-33% | Increase uveoscleral outflow; Increase trabecular outflow |
|
| Travaprost | Travatan | 0.004 % | qhs | 25-32% | Increase uveoscleral outflow | same as above |
| Latanaprost | Xalatan | 0.005% | qhs | 25-32% | Increase uveoscleral outflow | same as above |
| Beta-adrenergic antagonists (beta blockers) | ||||||
| Nonselective | ||||||
| Timolol maleate |
Timoptic
|
0.25%; 0.5%
0.25%,0.5% |
qd
qd, bid |
20-30%
20-30% | Decrease aqueous humor production | Bronchospasm, bradycardia, decrease blood pressure, adversely alter blood lipid profiles, CNS effect (lethargy, confusion, depression), impotence, exacerbate myasthenia gravis, mask symptoms of hypoglycemia in diabetics |
| Timolol hemihydrate | Betimol | 0.25%,0.5% | qd, bid | 20-30% | same as above | same as above |
| Levobunolol HCL | Betagan | 0.25%,0.5% | qd, bid | 20-30% | same as above | same as above |
| Metipranolol | Optipranolol | 0.3% | bid | 20-30% | same as above | same as above |
|
Carteolol (has intrinsic sympathomimetic activity) | Ocupress | 1.0% | qd, bid | 20-30% | same as above | same as above |
| Selective | ||||||
| Betaxolol | Betoptic | 0.25% | bid | 15-20% | Decrease aqueous humor production | Less bronchospasm, but otherwise similar to other beta blockers |
| Adrenergic Agonists | ||||||
| Nonselective | ||||||
| Epinepherine | Epifrin | 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0% | bid | 15-20% | Initially, decrease aqueous production and increase outflow; later, further increase outflow |
Systemic: hypertension, tachycardia, arrhythmia Ocular: adrenochrome deposits, drug allergy, follicular conujunctivitis, rebound hyperemia, cystoid macular edema in aphakia, madarosis |
| Dipivefrin HCL | Propine | 0.1% | bid | 15-20% | same as above | same as above |
| Alpha2-adrenergic Agonists | ||||||
| Selective | ||||||
| Apraclonidine HCL | Iopidine | 0.5%, 1.0% | bid, tid | 20-30% | Decrease aqueous production; decrease episcleral venous pressure | Systemic: dry mouth, decrease blood pressure, bradycardia
Ocular: follicular conjunctivitis, ocular irritation, pruritus, dermatitis, conjunctival blanching, eyelid retraction, mydriasis, drug allergy |
| Highly Selective | ||||||
|
Brimonidine tartrate in Purite |
Alphagan
Alphagan-P
|
0.2%
0.1%, 0.15%
|
bid,tid
bid, tid |
20-30%
20-30% | Decrease aqueous production; increase uveoscleral outflow | same as above, but less with brimonidine |
| Parasympathomimetic agents | ||||||
| Direct cholinergic agonist | ||||||
| Pilocarpine HCL |
Pilocar
|
0.2%-5%
0.5-6% |
bid, qid
bid, qid |
15%-25%
15%-25%
| Increase trabecular outflow | Miosis (decrease vision), brow ache, induced myopia and variable refractive error, exacerbate inflammation, shallow anterior chamber, retinal detachment |
| Indirect cholinergic agonist | ||||||
| Echothiophate iodide | 0.03%-0.25% | qd, bid | 15%-25% | Increase trabecular outflow | Above plus, cataractogenic, iris cysts in children, increase pupillary block, prolonged effect of paralyzing agent such as succinylcholine when used concomitantly | |
| Demercarium iodide | 0.125%, 0.25% | qd, bid | 15%-25% | same as above | same as above | |
| Physostigmine | 0.25%-0.5% | qd, bid | 15%-25% | same as above | same as above | |
| Isofluorophate | 0.25% | qhs | 15%-25% | same as above | same as above | |
| Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor | ||||||
| Oral | ||||||
| Acetazolamide (oral) | Diamox | 125mg, 250mg, 500mg SR | bid, tid, qid | 15%-20% | Decrease aqueous production | Parasthesia of fingers and toes, metallic taste, nausea, malaise, depression, loss of libido, hypokalemia, aplastic anemia, metabolic acidosis, kidney stones |
|
Acetazolamide (parenteral) | Diamox | 5-10mg/kg |
| 15%-20% | same as above | same as above |
| Methazolamide (oral) | Neptazane | 25mg, 50mg | bid, tid | 15-20% | same as above | same as above |
| Topical | ||||||
| Dorzolamide | Trusopt | 2.0% | bid, tid | 15-20% | Decrease aqueous humor production | same as above;Systemic side effects less with dorzolamide and brinzolamide |
| Brinzolamide | Azopt | 1.0% | bid, tid | 15-20% | same as above | same as above |
| Hyperosmotic agent | ||||||
| Glycerine (oral) | 50, 75% | 1.0-1.5g/kg | Decrease vitreous volume | Headache, back pain, diuresis, angina, pulmonary edema, heart failure, obtundation, seizure, and subarachnoid hemorrhage; nausea/vomiting (oral agents) | ||
| Isosorbide (oral) | 45% | 1.5g/kg | same as above | same as above | ||
| Mannitol (intravenous) | 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% | 1-2g/kg | same as above | same as above |
Medical follow up
IOP must be checked after initiation of treatment to determine its efficacy. Depending on the level of IOP and extent of optic nerve damage, the IOP should be checked within 1-2 days or a few weeks. The use of monocular trials has been debated but there is likely a role for monocular trial to establish both efficacy as well as tolerability. Medications should also be added one at a time if possible to avoid confusion regarding efficacy and tolerability.
Surgery
If initial medical and/or laser therapy fails to improve intraocular pressure to an accepatble level, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Prognosis
Most patients with glaucoma retain useful vision for most of their lives if caught early and treatment is initiated. Incidence of unilateral blindness has been reported to be 27% and bilateral blindness 9% at 20 years following diagnosis.
Additional Resources
Add text here
References
1. Gordon MO, J.A. Beiser, J.D. Brandt, D.K. Heuer, E.J. Higginbotham, C.A Johnson et al. and Ocular Hypertension Treatment Study, Baseline factors that predict the onset of primary open angle glaucoma, Arch Ophthalmol 120:714, 2002
2. Anderson DR, Drance SM, Schulzer M; Collaborative Normal-Tension Glaucoma Study Group. Natural history of normal-tension glaucoma. Ophthalmology 108(2):247, 2001
3. Sommer AE, Tielsch JM, Katz J et al: Relationship between intraocular pressure and primary open angle glaucoma among white and black Americans. The Baltimore Eye Survery Arch Ophthalmol 109: 1090,1991
4. Quigley HA, Enger C, Katz J: Risk factors for the development of glaucomatous visual field loss in ocular hypertension Arch Ophthalmol 112:644, 1994
5. Nouri-Mahdavi K, Hoffman D, Coleman AL, et al: Predictive factors for glaucomatous visual field progression in the Advanced Glaucoma Intervention Study. Ophthalmology 111:1627, 2004
6. Bengtsson B, Leske MC, L. Hyman, A. Heijl and Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial Group: Fluctuation of intraocular pressure and glaucoma progression in the Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial. Ophthalmology 114: 205, 2007
7. Parrish RK, Palmberg P, Sheu WP; XLT Study Group. A comparison of latanoprost, bimatoprost, and travoprost in patients with elevated intraocular pressure: a 12-week, randomized, masked-evaluator multicenter study. Am J Ophthalmol 135: 688, 2003
8. Coakes RL, Brubaker RF: The mechanism of timolol in lowering intraocular pressure in the normal eye. Arch Ophthalmol 96:2045, 1978
9. Schuman JS: Clinical experience with brimonidine 0.2% and timolol 0.5% in glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Surv Ophthalmol 41:S27, 1996
10. Bietti G, Virno M, Pecori-Giraldi J et al: Acetazolamide, metabolic acidosis, and intraocular pressure. Am J Ophthalmol 80:360, 1975
Add text here
