[Approaches in medical treatment in glaucoma (author's transl)].

The developments concern methods of application and therapeutic agents. Regarding drug aplication Ocusert has to be mentioned: inserted in the cul de sac of the eye once a week it releases a low concentration of a substance continuously and with a constant rate. For acetazolamid (Diamox) it has been shown, that in long term treatment much lower concentrations than usual are effective. Efforts regarding new local agents reducing intraocular pressure are stimulating as well as inhibiting the sympathetic tone. The practically most important discovery so far is Clonidine, whose pressure lowering mechanism is not quite clarified yet and which, due to other problems, demands a very critical indication. Beta-receptor-blocking agents, such as Propranolol could become somewhat important, as well as for some special indications the chemical sympathectomy by 6-Hydroxydopamine. The sympatholytic agent Guanethidine proves to be very valuable in special cases. Besides the pressure reducing treatment medicamentally achieved increase of the blood supply to the optic nerve becomes more important. It becomes more and more evident that the elevation of the stroke volume--thus heart output--by cardiac therapy is important what demands collaboration with colleagues of other disciplines.