Pilocarpine is a medication used to reduce pressure inside the eye and treat dry mouth. As eye drops it is used to manage angle closure glaucoma until surgery can be performed, ocular hypertension, primary open angle glaucoma, and to bring about constriction of the pupil following its dilation. However, due to its side effects it is no longer typically used in the long term management. Onset of effects with the drops is typically within an hour and lasts for up to a day. By mouth it is used for dry mouth as a result of Sjögren syndrome or radiation therapy.Common side effects of the eye drops include irritation of the eye, increased tearing, headache, and blurry vision. Other side effects include allergic reactions and retinal detachment. Use is generally not recommended during pregnancy. Pilocarpine is in the miotics family of medication. It works by activating cholinergic receptors of the muscarinic type which cause the trabecular meshwork to open and the aqueous humor to drain from the eye.Pilocarpine was isolated in 1874 by Hardy and Gerrard and has been used to treat glaucoma for more than 100 years. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. It was originally made from the South American plant Pilocarpus. Medical uses
Pilocarpine stimulates the secretion of large amounts of saliva and sweat.
Treatment
Depending on the location and extent of the bleeding, valsalva retinopathy usually resolves within weeks to months, without any complications. Patients are instructed to avoid anticoagulant drugs and physical activities which cause increase in intrathoracic or intra-abdominal pressure. For a speedy recovery, sometimes Nd:YAG laser or argon laser membranotomy may be advised. History
Valsalva retinopathy was first described in 1972 by American ophthalmologist Thomas D. Duane. == References ==