Which class of drugs is primarily used to decrease aqueous humor secretion in glaucoma?

Beta blockers are commonly used in the management of glaucoma primarily for their ability to decrease the secretion of aqueous humor, which is crucial in lowering intraocular pressure. They work by blocking the beta-adrenergic receptors in the ciliary body, leading to reduced production of aqueous humor. This makes beta blockers particularly effective for patients with open-angle glaucoma, as controlling intraocular pressure is essential in preventing damage to the optic nerve.

While alpha agonists and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors also play roles in glaucoma treatment, their mechanisms differ. Alpha agonists can reduce aqueous humor production but also increase outflow. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors do decrease aqueous humor production, but they are not the first-line agents compared to beta blockers for this specific mechanism. Prostaglandin analogs primarily work by increasing outflow of aqueous humor rather than directly inhibiting its production, making them less relevant to the question's focus on decreasing secretion.

Thus, beta blockers stand out as the primary class of drugs utilized for directly decreasing aqueous humor secretion in the treatment of glaucoma.