Drug of choice for acute congestive glaucoma is :
**Core Concept**
Acute congestive glaucoma, also known as acute angle-closure glaucoma, is a medical emergency that requires prompt treatment to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) and prevent vision loss. The condition is characterized by a sudden increase in IOP due to blockage of the trabecular meshwork, leading to optic nerve damage.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The drug of choice for acute congestive glaucoma is a combination of a beta-blocker and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, which rapidly reduces IOP by decreasing aqueous humor production and increasing its outflow. **Timolol** (a beta-blocker) is administered topically to reduce aqueous humor production, while **acetazolamide** (a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) is administered orally to increase aqueous humor outflow. This combination is often used in conjunction with **pilocarpine** (a miotic agent) to constrict the pupil and increase trabecular meshwork outflow.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** **Latanoprost** is a prostaglandin analog that increases aqueous humor outflow, but it is not the first-line treatment for acute congestive glaucoma due to its delayed onset of action.
**Option B:** **Apraclonidine** is an alpha-2 agonist that reduces aqueous humor production, but it is not as effective as timolol in acute congestive glaucoma.
**Option C:** **Dorzolamide** is a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor that increases aqueous humor outflow, but it is not as effective as acetazolamide in acute congestive glaucoma.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
In acute congestive glaucoma, the key to rapid IOP reduction is a combination of a beta-blocker and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, often in conjunction with a miotic agent. The goal is to reduce IOP by at least 20-30% within the first 30 minutes of treatment.
**Correct Answer: C. Acetazolamide.**