Which medication for glaucoma works by constricting the pupils to aid fluid escape?

Enhance your knowledge for the Dunphy Primary Care Exam 2. Engage in flashcards and answer detailed multiple-choice questions. Get hints and explanations to refine your skills. Prepare now for success!

Pilocarpine is the medication that works by constricting the pupils, a process known as miosis. This action helps to facilitate the outflow of aqueous humor from the eye, thereby reducing intraocular pressure, which is particularly beneficial in managing glaucoma. When the pupils are constricted, the angle between the iris and the cornea is widened, allowing for better drainage of fluid and alleviating pressure within the eye.

Brinzolamide, on the other hand, is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that reduces the production of aqueous humor, while Timolol is a non-selective beta-blocker that similarly lowers aqueous humor production. Acetazolamide, also a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, reduces fluid production as well but does not affect pupil size. Thus, Pilocarpine stands out for its unique mechanism of action that involves changing pupil size to enhance fluid escape from the eye.

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