Uses
Pilocarpine shares the uses of the miotics.
Because of its increased duration of effect and less frequent administration, pilocarpine hydrochloride gel may provide some advantages over ophthalmic solutions of the drug in some patients with open-angle glaucoma, particularly those in whom compliance with frequent-dosing regimens with ophthalmic solutions is a problem. Pilocarpine hydrochloride gel is used mainly for the chronic treatment of open-angle (chronic simple, noncongestive) glaucoma. Ophthalmic solutions of the drug are preferred when an acute reduction in IOP and/or an intense miotic effect are necessary such as in the emergency treatment of acute angle-closure glaucoma prior to surgery, for the reduction of IOP and the protection of the lens prior to goniotomy or iridectomy, or to counteract the mydriatic effects of sympathomimetic agents following ophthalmologic examinations. It is not known whether unresponsiveness develops more or less frequently to the gel than to pilocarpine ophthalmic solutions.