Usually, treatment begins with one medication. If the pressure is not lowered enough, a higher dose of the medication may be tried or a different medication may be added. Many of these medications can be used together to obtain an additive effect in lowering the intraocular pressure. The most commonly used carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are Diamox, Neptazane, and Methazolamide. Unfortunately, glaucoma medications may have undesirable side effects in some patients.
Some patients are more susceptible to side effects than others.
Finding the right medication for a patient involves balancing the pressure-lowering effects of the medication against the side effects. Because each patient is different, the treatment must be individualized. There is no cure for primary open-angle glaucoma, only control through treatment. If the medication or pills are stopped, the elevated intraocular pressure will return. Therefore, it is important for glaucoma patients to use their medication faithfully.