Which type of eye drop is used to treat acute glaucoma?

Acute glaucoma, particularly acute angle-closure glaucoma, is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to lower intraocular pressure. Prostaglandin analogs are often used for the long-term management of glaucoma, but they may not be the most effective choice in acute situations due to their slower onset of action.

For acute glaucoma, the correct type of eye drops would typically include those that can rapidly lower intraocular pressure. This is typically achieved with carbonic anhydrase inhibitors or systemic medications such as oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors like acetazolamide, rather than relying on prostaglandin analogs.

Beta-blockers are used to decrease aqueous humor production, but their true efficacy may not be sufficient alone in an acute setting. Corticosteroids are indicated in inflammatory conditions but do not directly address the underlying pressure issue in glaucoma. Antibiotics are prescribed for infections and do not treat glaucoma.

In summary, while prostaglandin analogs are important in the management of chronic glaucoma due to their effectiveness in increasing outflow and reducing pressure over time, they are not the immediate treatment of choice for acute glaucoma where rapid reduction of intraocular pressure is crucial.