According to the World Health Organization, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, with an estimated 4.5 million people blind from the disease.

Glaucoma is a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve, which is responsible for sending visual signals from the eye to the brain. The condition is often associated with increased pressure in the eye, and if left untreated, can lead to permanent blindness.

The good news is that there are a variety of drugs that can help reduce the risk of developing glaucoma by up to 50%. Here are the top 30 drugs used to treat glaucoma:.

1. Prostaglandins

Prostaglandins are a class of drugs that increase the outflow of fluid from the eye, which can help reduce pressure within the eye. These drugs are usually given as eye drops and include:.

Latanoprost (Xalatan)
Bimatoprost (Lumigan)
Travoprost (Travatan)
Tafluprost (Zioptan)

2. Beta-blockers

Beta-blockers reduce the production of fluid in the eye, which can help reduce pressure within the eye. These drugs are usually given as eye drops and include:.

Timolol (Betimol, Istalol, Timoptic)
Levobunolol (Betagan)
Metipranolol (OptiPranolol)
Carteolol (Carteol)

3. Alpha-agonists

Alpha-agonists reduce the production of fluid in the eye and increase the outflow of fluid from the eye. These drugs are usually given as eye drops and include:.

Brimonidine (Alphagan)
Apraclonidine (Iopidine)

4. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce the production of fluid in the eye. These drugs are usually given as eye drops or oral medication and include:.

Dorzolamide (Trusopt)
Brinzolamide (Azopt)
Acetazolamide (Diamox)
Methazolamide (Neptazane)

5. Rho kinase inhibitors

Rho kinase inhibitors increase the outflow of fluid from the eye. These drugs are usually given as eye drops and include:.

Netarsudil (Rhopressa)

6. Combination medications

Combination medications contain two or more of the above drugs in a single eye drop. This can be more convenient for patients who need to use multiple eye drops to manage their glaucoma. Combination medications include:.

Dorzolamide-timolol (Cosopt)
Bimatoprost-timolol (Ganfort)
Brimonidine-timolol (Combigan)

7. Osmotic agents

Osmotic agents reduce pressure within the eye by temporarily drawing fluid from the eye. These drugs are usually given as oral medication and include:.

Mannitol (Osmitrol)
Glycerin (Glycerol)

8. Neuroprotective agents

Neuroprotective agents aim to protect the optic nerve from damage caused by glaucoma. These drugs are usually given as oral medication and include:.

Memoquin (Memantine)
Brilliant Blue G (BBG)

9. Natural products

Some natural products have been studied for their potential to reduce the risk of developing glaucoma. These products include:.

Ginkgo biloba
Bilberry
Cannabis

10. Surgery

In some cases, surgery may be required to reduce pressure within the eye. Types of surgery for glaucoma include:.

Trabeculectomy
Glaucoma drainage implants
Laser trabeculoplasty
Laser cyclophotocoagulation

11. Timolol Gel Forming Solution (Timolol GFS)

Timolol GFS is an eye drop solution that contains timolol, a beta-blocker used to reduce pressure within the eye. The gel formula allows for the medication to be released slowly over time, which can reduce the need for frequent dosing.

12. Betoptic S

Betoptic S is an eye drop solution that contains betaxolol, a beta-blocker used to reduce pressure within the eye. This medication is often used as an alternative to timolol for patients who experience side effects with timolol.

13. xName

xName is an eye drop solution that contains netarsudil, a rho kinase inhibitor used to increase the outflow of fluid from the eye. This medication is usually given as a once-daily dose to reduce the need for frequent dosing.

14. Combigan

Combigan is a combination eye drop solution that contains brimonidine and timolol. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production and increasing fluid outflow.

15. Simbrinza

Simbrinza is a combination eye drop solution that contains brinzolamide and brimonidine. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production and increasing fluid outflow.

16. Alphagan P

Alphagan P is an eye drop solution that contains brimonidine. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production and increasing fluid outflow.

17. Lumify

Lumify is an eye drop solution that contains brimonidine. This medication is used to relieve redness in the eyes, but may also have a mild effect on reducing pressure within the eye.

18. Azopt

Azopt is an eye drop solution that contains brinzolamide. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production.

19. Istalol

Istalol is an eye drop solution that contains timolol. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production.

20. Xiidra

Xiidra is an eye drop solution that contains lifitegrast. This medication is used to treat dry eye disease, but may also have a mild effect on reducing pressure within the eye.

21. Vyzulta

Vyzulta is an eye drop solution that contains latanoprostene bunod. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by increasing fluid outflow.

22. Trusopt

Trusopt is an eye drop solution that contains dorzolamide. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production.

23. Rocklatan

Rocklatan is a combination eye drop solution that contains latanoprost and netarsudil. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production and increasing fluid outflow.

24. Eysuvis

Eysuvis is an eye drop solution that contains loteprednol etabonate. This medication is used to treat dry eye disease, but may also have a mild effect on reducing pressure within the eye.

25. Zyoptix

Zyoptix is an eye drop solution that contains tafluprost. This medication is used to reduce pressure with the eye by increasing fluid outflow.

26. Diamox

Diamox is an oral medication that contains acetazolamide. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by reducing fluid production.

27. Osmitrol

Osmitrol is an oral medication that contains mannitol. This medication is used to reduce pressure within the eye by temporarily drawing fluid from the eye.