2020–2021 BCSC Basic and Clinical Science Course™
10 Glaucoma
Chapter 12: Medical Management of Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension
Highlights
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Target pressure is an estimate of the intraocular pressure (IOP) level below which the rate of disease progression is expected to be sufficiently slow as to minimize the patient’s risk of experiencing further symptomatic vision loss. Target pressure is determined based on an assessment of various clinical factors that influence the future risk of progression.
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There are 5 classes of topical ocular hypotensive medications that are prescribed for long-term use. They are frequently used in combination. Clinicians should tailor their selection among these agents for each patient based on their efficacy, contraindications, adverse effect profile, and cost.
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Prostaglandin analogues are the most commonly used IOP-lowering agents. They lower IOP by increasing uveoscleral outflow.
Excerpted from BCSC 2020-2021 series: Section 10 - Glaucoma. For more information and to purchase the entire series, please visit https://www.aao.org/bcsc.