THE ROLE OF BRIMONIDINE IN THE TREATMENT OF OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

At present, medical therapy is the first line of attack against primar y open-angle glaucoma. beta-blockers, miotics, sympathomimetics, carbo nic anhydrase inhibitors, and prostaglandins have been used with varyi ng degrees of success. The alpha(2)-agonists, clonidine, apraclonidine , and now brimonidine are powerful inhibitors of aqueous humor product ion, thereby lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) in these patients. Br imonidine is emerging as a potential first-line therapy for primary op en-angle glaucoma, with a peak IOP-lowering efficacy comparable to tha t of timolol, but without timolol's adverse cardiopulmonary side effec ts. Brimonidine promises to be an important new drug to help meet the therapeutic challenges faced by ophthalmologists in treating glaucoma.