What Is Dorzolamide Used For?
Dorzolamide is approved to lower eye pressure in people with chronic open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. It can be used by itself or in combination with other glaucoma drugs. In some cases, dorzolamide is used "off-label" for the treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma. This medication is licensed for use in both adults and children.
An Overview of Uses for DorzolamideDorzolamide hydrochloride (Trusopt®) is a prescription eye drop that is taken to lower the pressure in the eyes (intraocular pressure). Specifically, it is approved to lower eye pressure in people with the following conditions:
- Chronic open-angle glaucoma
- Ocular hypertension (high eye pressure that is not accompanied by changes in vision or damage to the optic nerve, as would happen with glaucoma).
Not everyone with high eye pressure has glaucoma, although high eye pressure can lead to glaucoma. Thus, effectively treating high eye pressure can help prevent glaucoma.
Glaucoma is not a single disease. It is actually a group of diseases sharing certain features, such as:
- High pressure within the eye (intraocular pressure)
- Damage to the optic nerve
- Loss of peripheral (side) vision
- Possible blindness.
Of all the different types, open-angle glaucoma is by far the most common (see Types of Glaucoma).
Although there is no cure for open-angle glaucoma, symptoms can usually be controlled, and further damage may be prevented or reduced. The most common glaucoma treatments are:
- Traditional surgery (see Glaucoma Surgery)
- Medications (see Glaucoma Medications)
- Laser surgery (see Glaucoma Laser Surgery).
Dorzolamide can be used by itself or, if necessary, combined with other types of glaucoma medications or treatments.