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Topical Drug Therapy in Glaucoma

Die topische Pharmakotherapie des Glaukoms

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Zusammenfassung

Glaukom ist definiert als progressive Optikusneuropathie, die mit typischer Schädigung der Papille und des Gesichtsfeldes einhergeht. Erhöhter Augeninnendruck ist der wichtigste Risikofaktor für die Entwicklung einer Optikusneuropathie. Auch wenn andere Mechanismen als erhöhter Augeninnendruck an der Pathogenese des Glaukoms beteiligt sein könnten, so bleibt die Reduktion des Augendrucks ein primäres Ziel der Therapie. Zahlreiche klinische Studien haben gezeigt, dass eine Reduktion des Augendrucks die Entwicklung eines Glaukoms verzögern oder gar verhindern kann. In den letzten 10 Jahren wurde die medikamentöse antiglaukomatöse Therapie um zahlreiche neue und wirkungsvolle Ansätze erweitert. In diesem Review soll auf die topische antiglaukomatöse Therapie eingegangen werden.

Summary

Glaucoma is defined as a progressive optic neuropathy involving characteristic structural changes in the optic nerve head and corresponding visual field defects. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a major risk and causative factor for glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Although mechanisms other than elevated IOP may contribute to the underlying pathophysiology of glaucoma, reducing IOP remains the primary goal of therapy. Recent clinical studies have shown that decreasing the IOP can delay, or in some cases prevent progression of this chronic ocular disease. Over the past decade, several new medical therapies have become available for the treatment of glaucoma. In this article a review of topical glaucoma therapy is presented.

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  1. Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Hemma Resch & Gerhard Garhofer

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  1. Hemma Resch
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  2. Gerhard Garhofer
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Correspondence to Gerhard Garhofer.

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Resch, H., Garhofer, G. Topical Drug Therapy in Glaucoma. Wien Med Wochenschr 156, 501–507 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-006-0335-0

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