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Medical Treatment: Osmotic Agents

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Abstract

Hyperosmotic agents, or osmotics, are generally used for short-term IOP control in emergency situations [1] where other medications are unable to lower the IOP [2]. Intravenous (IV) mannitol and oral glycerin (or glycerol) are the most commonly used hyperosmotic agents [1, 3]. Both agents penetrate the blood–ocular barrier poorly, which is a definite advantage, since this fact creates a larger osmotic gradient for water to follow. Other osmotic agents formerly used – isosorbide, alcohol, and urea – have comparable efficacy to mannitol and glycerin but were seldom used because of worse side effect profiles. However, even the currently used osmotics have potentially life-threatening side effects, and they should be used with caution (see Sect. 27.2).

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Acknowledgments

Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Pharmacy Department: Judy Yee RPH, Ann Papadopoulos RPH, and Christine Finn PharmD.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Teresa C. Chen

Authors
  1. Kayoung Yi
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  2. Teresa C. Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Teresa C. Chen .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Jules Stein Eye Institute, Stein Plaza 100, Los Angeles, 90095, U.S.A.

    JoAnn A. Giaconi

  2. Jules Stein Eye Institute, Stein Plaza 100, Los Angeles, 90095, U.S.A.

    Simon K. Law

  3. Jules Stein Eye Institute, Stein Plaza 100, Los Angeles, 90095, U.S.A.

    Anne L. Coleman

  4. Jules Stein Eye Institute, Stein Plaza 100, Los Angeles, 90095, U.S.A.

    Joseph Caprioli

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Yi, K., Chen, T.C. (2010). Medical Treatment: Osmotic Agents. In: Giaconi, J., Law, S., Coleman, A., Caprioli, J. (eds) Pearls of Glaucoma Management. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68240-0_27

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-68240-0_27

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-68238-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-68240-0

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