RESUMO
Glaucoma is a leading cause for worldwide blindness and is characterized by progressive optic nerve damage. The etiology of glaucoma is unknown, but elevated intraocular pressure [IOP] and advanced age have been identified as risk factors. IOP reduction is the only known treatment for glaucoma. Recently, drugs that inhibit Rho associated protein kinase [ROCK] have been studied in animals and people for their ability to lower IOP and potentially treat POAG. ROCK inhibitors lower IOP through a trabecular mechanism and may represent a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of glaucoma. Ripasudil is the first Rho-kinase inhibitor ophthalmic solution developed for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension in Japan 2014. ROCK inhibition not only reduces intraocular pressure [IOP] but also increases ocular blood flow