Tag: Carbachol

Carbachol is a potent cholinergic agonist that mimics the effects of acetylcholine, primarily used in the eye for therapeutic purposes. This versatile drug plays a critical role in ophthalmology, where its actions help manage intraocular pressure and control pupil size during surgical procedures. Exploring what is the use of carbachol reveals its distinct advantages over other miotic agents due to its long-lasting effects.

No, bethanechol is not used to treat glaucoma; in fact, it can be contraindicated in certain forms of the condition. While it is a muscarinic agonist—a class of drugs that includes some glaucoma medications—bethanechol's effects primarily target the smooth muscle of the bladder and gastrointestinal tract, not the drainage pathways of the eye.

During delicate eye surgeries, controlling the size of the pupil is essential for surgical success and safety. This is achieved using miotic agents, which are a specific type of drug that constrict the pupil during ophthalmic surgery, enabling surgeons to work more precisely and efficiently. A prominent example is acetylcholine chloride, which is delivered directly into the eye for rapid and short-lived pupil constriction.

In 2022, an estimated 4.2 million Americans were living with glaucoma, a leading cause of irreversible blindness [1.2.1]. This article explores a key class of drugs used in its treatment and answers: what is an example of a miotic drug?

Miotics, or cholinergic agonists, have been used in eye care for over a century, with pilocarpine being the most widely recognized topical example. In modern ophthalmology, two primary miotic drugs, pilocarpine and carbachol, are used to constrict pupils and increase fluid drainage to lower intraocular pressure, notably in the treatment of certain types of glaucoma.

Miotics are parasympathomimetic drugs primarily used to lower intraocular pressure in glaucoma by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor [1.6.2]. When researching 'What are the side effects of miotics quizlet', it's crucial to understand both the eye-related (local) and body-wide (systemic) adverse effects.

First used in eye care for over a century, miotic drugs cause the pupil to constrict, a process known as miosis, by affecting the eye's muscles. This pharmacological action, which can either stimulate the parasympathetic pathway or inhibit the sympathetic pathway, is leveraged to treat various eye conditions. A diverse range of miotic drug examples exists, each with a unique mechanism and application.

In one study, intracameral carbachol reduced the incidence of early postoperative intraocular pressure elevation from 33% in a control group to just 4% [1.2.1]. This highlights a key question for surgical patients: **what does carbachol do to the eyes?**

Miostat® (carbachol intraocular solution, USP) is a sterile solution used to constrict the pupil during eye surgery, such as cataract removal [1.6.7]. A critical question for surgical planning and post-operative care is, how long does Miostat last? Its effects can persist for up to 24 hours [1.2.2, 1.2.3].

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, carbachol is used in ophthalmology to decrease pressure within the eye for certain types of glaucoma and to constrict the pupil during eye surgery, such as cataract extraction. As a cholinergic agonist, it mimics the effects of acetylcholine, causing the muscles within the eye to contract.