Dorzolamide is used to treat pressure put upon the eye caused by glaucoma and hypertension of the eye. High pressure on the eye can lead to eye pain and vision loss. Dorzolamide helps to treat and prevent these complications by minimizing pressure on the eye.
Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes progressive damage to your optic nerve. This damage is usually the result of an abnormal amount of pressure inside of your eye and over time it can lead to vision loss or even blindness.
The most common type of glaucoma is open-angle glaucoma. The only symptom associated with open-angle glaucoma is vision loss. Usually, this vision loss begins with peripheral vision. However, if it is caught early enough you may be able to prevent additional vision loss. This is why you must get yearly comprehensive eye examinations by an ophthalmologist, or eye specialist, to monitor any changes to your vision.
Ocular hypertension (high pressure on the eye) occurs when there is an excessive amount of pressure inside the eye. The optic nerve is not affected by ocular hypertension, nor do signs of glaucoma appear during vision testing. Ocular hypertension is most common in people over 40, people managing high blood pressure or diabetes, people who are very nearsighted, and people with a family history of ocular hypertension or glaucoma.