Contrast sensitivity improves after brimonidine therapy in primary open angle glaucoma: a case for neuroprotection

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 87; no. 12; pp. 1463 - 1465
• Main Authors: Evans, D W, Hosking, S L, Gherghel, D, Bartlett, J D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.12.2003; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; Copyright 2003 British Journal of Ophthalmology
• Subjects: Adrenergic alpha-Agonists - therapeutic use; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use; Analysis of Variance; Biological and medical sciences; brimonidine; Brimonidine Tartrate; Care and treatment; Clinical Science - Scientific Reports; Contrast Sensitivity; Defects; Disease; Drug dosages; Eye; Glaucoma; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - drug therapy; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - physiopathology; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Investigations; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; neuroprotection; Ophthalmology; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; primary open angle glaucoma; Quinoxalines - therapeutic use; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 - drug effects; Retina; Retinopathies; timolol; Timolol - therapeutic use; Antiglaucomatous agent; Human; α2-Adrenergic receptor; Quinoxaline derivatives; Therapy; Open angle glaucoma; Brimonidine; Contrast; Chemotherapy; Sensitivity; Treatment; Primary; α-Adrenergic receptor agonist
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.87.12.1463

Aims: To determine the visual outcome following initiation of brimonidine therapy in glaucoma. Methods: 16 newly diagnosed previously untreated glaucoma patients were randomly assigned to either timolol 0.5% or brimonidine 0.2%. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (CS), visual fields, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months. Results: IOP reduction was similar for both groups (p<0.05). Brimonidine improved CS; in the right eye at 6 and 12 cpd (p = 0.043, p = 0.017); in the left eye at 3 and 12 cpd (p = 0.044, p = 0.046). Timolol reduced CS at 18 cpd in the right eye (p = 0.041). There was no change in any other measured parameters. Conclusion: Glaucoma patients exhibit improved CS on initiation of brimonidine therapy.