T3-Glaucoma Medications-MJ

Question 1

What is the leading, preventable cause of blindness?

Answer 1

Glaucoma–gets undiagnosed a lot

Question 2

What happens to the eye if you have glaucoma?

Answer 2

The continuous aqueous humor is not getting filtered out–the filter becomes clogged OR the aqueous humor makes too much fluid.

BOTH of these cause too much pressure, which damages the optic nerve, leading to an increased risk in blindness

Question 3

What are the drug therapy options for glaucoma?

Answer 3

Decrease production of aqueous humor

Increase drainage

Question 4

What are 4 of the main drugs used to treat glaucoma?

Answer 4

Timolol
Brimonidine
Dorzolamide
Prostaglandin analogs

Question 5

Is timolol a selective or non-selective beta blocker?

Answer 5

Non-selective beta blocker

It will block all of the beta receptors (b1-heart; b2-lungs)

Question 6

What does timolol do?

Answer 6

Decreases production of the aqueous humor

Question 7

How is timolol absorbed?

Answer 7

Systemically; this drug can travel

1 drop per eye= 10 mg if taken PO
Essentially, putting this drug in your eye is like taking a PO beta-blocker, which would decrease HR and cause bronchoconstriction

Question 8

Brimonidine is an _____.

Answer 8

Alpha2 agonist

Question 9

What does brimonidine do?

Answer 9

Decreases production of aqueous humor AND increases drainage

Question 10

How is brimonidine absorbed?

Answer 10

Systemically

Question 11

Can brimonidine cross the BBB?

Answer 11

Yes

Question 12

Brimonidine is lipid soluble. What does this mean?

Answer 12

It can cross the BBB and have sedative effects like fatigue, sedation, drowsiness, and hypotension

Question 13

What does drozolamide do?

Answer 13

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that decreases production of the aqueous humor

Question 14

Are there any big side effects with drozolamide?

Answer 14

No

Question 15

Why is prostaglandin analogs good drugs for both convince and adherence?

Answer 15

You only have to take this once a day

Question 16

What do prostaglandin analogs do?

Answer 16

Increase drainage

Question 17

What is the unique side effect of prostaglandin analogs?

Answer 17

There are changes to eyelashes and iris

Question 18

Prostaglandin analogs have a unique feature of having changes to the eyelashes and iris. What does this mean?

Answer 18

Makes lashes longer and thicker

Brown speckles/patches on the iris–can actually change the coloration of your eyes

Question 19

How often to the changes in eyelashes and iris happen to people taking prostaglandin analogs?

Answer 19

Happens in about 15-30% of most people

Question 20

What are the 3 types of PROSTaglandin analogs?

Answer 20

LatanoPROST
TravoPROST
BimatoPROST

Question 21

What are the three common adverse effects with all these types of eyedrops?

Answer 21

Redness, irritation, watering
Ocular burning on application
Bitter taste

Question 22

Why is bitter taste a common adverse effect when giving a medication in the eye?

Answer 22

The medicine may leak into the nose and smell and taste go hand in hand

Question 23

There are 5 client teaching that goes along with eyedrop medication. What are they?

Answer 23

1. Form a “pocket” in the lower lid
2. Place finger on nasolacrimal duct
3. Don’t touch the dropper tip
4. Space drops by 5 min
5. If patient wears contacts, wait 10-15 min

Question 24

Eyedrop client teaching:

What is the “pocket” called that the patient needs to form?

Answer 24

Conjunctival sac

Question 25

Eyedrop client teaching:

How long do we place the finger on the nasolacrimal duct and why do we even do this?

Answer 25

1-3 min

So medicine doesn’t drain into the nose

Question 26

Eyedrop client teaching:

Why can’t we touch the dropper tip?

Answer 26

We want to keep it as sterile as possible

Question 27

Eyedrop client teaching:

How many minutes do we space drops by?

Answer 27

5 minutes

Question 28

Eyedrop client teaching:

What do we teach the client if they have contacts?

Answer 28

Take the eyedrops, then wait 10-15 minutes after giving the medicine before putting the contacts in