Pilocarpine Eye Drops

Pilocarpine eye drop is a drug prepared from Pilocarpine, a parasympathomimetic alkaloid extracted from the leaves of tropical American shrubs from the genus Pilocarpus. The eye drops is primarily used to treat various eye problems, especially glaucoma. Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve of the eye gets damaged, resulting in progressive, permanent loss of vision. It is a condition wherein the pressure in the eye increases, leading to irreversible loss of eyesight. Hence, to relieve the symptoms of glaucoma, pilocarpine eye drops are commonly used. This was just a brief account on pilocarpine eye drops, now let us move to pilocarpine usage or benefits, followed by its side effects.

Usage of Pilocarpine Eye Drops

As said before, these drops are mainly used to treat glaucoma, a condition wherein the eye pressure is very high for the optic nerve to function properly. There are majorly two ways by which this pressure can be reduced, either by slowing down the rate of fluid production in the eye or by increasing the rate with which the fluid drains out of the eye. They work by increasing the rate with which the fluid exits from the eye. These drops stimulate the muscles inside the eyes which pressurizes the drainage channels to help the fluid leave the eyes faster, which subsequently reduces the pressure and cures glaucoma.

Apart from this, pilocarpine is also used to reduce the risks of glare at night from lights, especially, if the patient has just undergone implantation of phakic intraocular lenses. However, under this condition, the patient should go for pilocarpine eye drops with 1% or weakest concentration. It can be used as an antidote for combating scopolamine, atropine, and hyoscyamine poisoning. Also pilocarpine helps in reducing dry mouth or xerostomia, a side effect which most patients suffer after the radiation therapy for head and neck cancers. Pilocarpine for dry mouth works by stimulating the secretion of saliva and sweat in the body. Moreover, due to its sweat glands stimulating ability, pilocarpine is also used to measure the concentration of chloride and sodium excreted in sweat during cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis.

Pilocarpine Drops Side Effects

Although the medication benefits by curing different eye problems, many patients during the initial stages of usage experience temporarily unstable or blurred vision, especially after applying the drops. Initially some patients also suffer headache, brow ache, stinginess, dizziness, etc. till their body gets accustomed to it. However, if you start experiencing severe change in vision, sweating, vomiting, eye pain, irregular heart beats, increased salivation or diarrhea, do not hesitate. You should immediately contact your doctor.

How to Apply

Wash your hands properly with soap and water, and then remove the protective cap. Do not touch the dropper or allow it to touch your eye in order to avoid any contamination or eye infection. Tilt your head backward, look up and carefully pull down the lower eyelid to create a pouch. You can either use a mirror or take someone's help for this. Place the dropper exactly over your eye and drop the prescribed number of drops. Gaze down and slowly close your eye for a minutes for so. Meanwhile, don't rub or blink your eyes. If you need to repeat the dosage, wait for 5 minutes and then apply the drops. After using, instantly replace and tighten the cap and do not wipe or rinse it off.

The dosage mainly depends upon your eye conditions and medical history. If you are having any health problems like heart disease, hypertension, an overactive thyroid gland, seizures, etc. and taking medications for them, first talk to your doctor about it and then only if he recommends, start using these eye drops. Hence, do not start or stop taking the eye drops without consulting your doctor.