Drugs used for glaucoma Flashcards
What are the risk factors for glaucoma?
- high IOP (>21mmHg)
- family history of glaucoma
- race (African more likely to develop)
- systemic hypertension
- cardiovascular disease
- migraine
- previous ocular disease
What is normal IOP?
12-16 mmHg
What is the cause of glaucoma?
Impaired drainage of aqueous humour - pressure of fluid in the eye builds up and exerts a greater pressure inside the eye (increased IOP)
What are the 2 types of glaucoma?
- Primary
- Secondary (from another eye condition)
- can also be divided into open and closed angle - this lecture focuses on drugs that treat OPEN angle, closed angle tends to be treated with surgery
Where is aqueous humour produced?
In epithelial cells of the ciliary muscle (large blood supply helping it to flow and be secreted out)
What is meant by open angle?
Angle between iris and sclera
What is presented at the open angle?
Trabecular meshwork of cells
What features does the trabecular meshwork have that allows aqueous humour to flow through?
- lots of spaces between cells allowing humour flow
- flows due to pressure in the anterior chamber being higher than in the episceral vein
- allows 80% of aqueous humour to flow
What is another route of aqueous humour outflow?
Uveoscelral outflow route - bypasses trabecular meshwork and goes through the cells of the scelra and ciliary body
Why is the Uveoscleral route less preferred to the trabecular route?
Cells of the sclera and ciliary body are more tightly packed together, meaning there is more resistance and pressure compared to the ‘holey’ trabecular meshwork.
Travels much more slowly
What are the aims in antiglaucoma treatment?
- reduce IOP <16-20 mmHg
- drug to have sufficient duration of action
- provides:
- Preservation of visual field
- No loss of effect over time (lifetime treatment)
- Compatibility with other treatments
- No topical or systemic side effects
What causes neuropathy and damage to vision?
high IOP
What patient compliance do eye drops have?
LOW - inconvenient, multiple uses per day, cause temporary blurred vision
What is the first line treatment for glaucoma?
Prostaglandin and prostamide analogues
What features does prostaglandin E have?
Has great control in production of aqueous humour - however is very unstable and breaks down quickly so cannot be used
What prostaglandin is used as a drug ?
Prostaglandin F2alpha and its analogues.
It is an acid, less unstable than E
What are the analogues of Prostaglandin F2alpha?
- Latanoprost
- Travoprost
- Tafluoprost
*ESTERS - more stable, less charged, last longer in formulation. Unique mechanism to decrease IOP
What is the analogue of Prostamide F2alpha?
Bimatoprost
Where are prostaglandins produced?
Naturally in most cells
What roles do prostaglandins play?
Decrease IOP - most efficacious
Where do the Prostaglandin analogues act?
Via the FP receptor
What reaction needs to happen in order for the prostaglandin analogues to be able to work on the FP receptor?
The ester analogues need to be converted back to acids (converted by esterases in the cornea)
*this means the ester analogues are PRODRUGS
What type of receptor is the FP receptor?
G-protein-coupled receptor (G-alpha-q), so when analogues bind, it causes activation of phospholipase C , which will increase diacyl glycerol and triphosphate within tissue.
Where are FP receptors present?
- Predominantly Ciliary body & muscle, sclera
- Iris sphincter
- Trabecular meshwork cells (few present)
What characteristics do the prostaglandin analogues have?
- prodrugs (need to be converted)
- long duration of action (once daily preparation at night)
- Greatest efficacy - can lower IOP up to 35%
- well tolerated
Where do the Prostamide analogues act?
On FP receptors as well, however also work on more specific prostamide analogues present in higher concentrations in trabecular meshwork (better action)
What do prostamide analogues do?
Increase Uveoscleral and trabecular meshwork outflow