What does pilocarpine do?

Lower eye pressure: For many years it was the first line of lowering pressure in those with glaucoma, but seldom is used any more. It also caused the pupil to be very small and was painful when put in the eye. For most cases it needed to be used 4 times a day and now most glaucoma medications are used less often and have less side effects. It also was believed to cause cataracts, but not proven.

Pilocarpine: "Pilocarpine hydrochloride tablets are contraindicated in patients with uncontrolled asthma, known hypersensitivity to Pilocarpine, and when miosis is undesirable, e.g., in acute iritis and in narrow-angle (angle closure) glaucoma." See: http://www.drugs.com/pro/pilocarpine.html