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Related Concept Videos

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment01:27

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses01:11

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Therapeutic Uses

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists have many therapeutic uses in various medical fields. Choline esters, including acetylcholine, have limited clinical utility due to their non-selectivity and short duration of action. Still, acetylcholine and carbachol are applied topically during ophthalmologic surgery to induce miosis. Pilocarpine, a muscarinic and ganglionic stimulator, effectively treats open-angle glaucoma and alleviates xerostomia and dry mouth caused by radiotherapy or Sjögren syndrome.
Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems01:23

Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems

Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics01:31

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Pharmacokinetics

Direct-acting cholinergic agonists, such as synthetic choline esters and naturally occurring alkaloids, exert their effects by enhancing the actions of acetylcholine and stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. Synthetic choline esters share structural similarities with acetylcholine. For example, they have a positively charged quaternary ammonium or onium group, contributing to their hydrophilic characteristics. As a result, they are poorly absorbed in the body through oral...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2026

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
10:10

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents

Published on: February 15, 2022

Pilocarpine induced acute angle closure.

Alexander C Day1, Winnie Nolan, Aeesha N Malik

  • 1NIHR Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology, Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom. alex.day@ucl.ac.uk

BMJ Case Reports
|May 19, 2012
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Pilocarpine eye drops can trigger acute angle closure in patients with primary angle closure glaucoma and spherophakia. Lens extraction and other surgeries were needed to manage the high eye pressure.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 22, 2026

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
10:10

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents

Published on: February 15, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Glaucoma Research
  • Ocular Surgery

Background:

  • Primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) is a significant cause of vision loss.
  • Spherophakia, a rare condition, can predispose individuals to angle closure.
  • Pilocarpine is sometimes used to prepare eyes for laser procedures in glaucoma management.

Observation:

  • A 34-year-old female with advanced PACG experienced acute angle closure after receiving pilocarpine 2% eye drops.
  • Further examination revealed an underlying diagnosis of spherophakia without systemic associations.
  • The patient's intraocular pressure remained elevated, necessitating intervention.

Findings:

  • The patient underwent laser peripheral iridotomies, bilateral clear lens extractions, and cyclodiode laser treatment.
  • These interventions were crucial for controlling her intraocular pressures.
  • The case demonstrates a potential adverse reaction to pilocarpine in specific glaucoma patients.

Implications:

  • Pilocarpine administration requires caution in patients with PACG, especially those with undiagnosed spherophakia.
  • Phacoemulsification (lens extraction) is emerging as a viable alternative to traditional filtration surgery for PACG.
  • This case underscores the importance of comprehensive patient evaluation for optimal glaucoma treatment strategies.