Abstract | PURPOSE: METHODS: Twenty healthy test persons (12 female and 8 male subjects)-mean age about 33 years (22 to 38 years)-were tested in a double-blind, prospective, randomized study. Intraocular pressure as well as epithelial, stromal, and endothelial thickness was measured before, at 25 days while, and at 5 days after administration of brimonidine 0.1% eye drops twice daily. To check the impact of this medication, placebo (proper solution of preservative) eye drops were administered to the other eye twice daily. RESULTS: Administration of brimonidine 0.1% resulted in a reduction of intraocular pressure from an initial value of 14 to 9 mmHg after 5 days (P=0.001) as well as an increase in total corneal thickness from 556 μm from the time of the baseline examination to 578 μm (P=0.001), an increase of epithelial thickness from 58 to 66 μm (P<0.001), and stromal thickness from 488 to 502 μm (P=0.008) after 2 days each. Another 2 days later, total corneal thickness was 559 μm (P=0.276), epithelial thickness 56 μm (P=0.561), and stromal thickness 493 μm (P=0.315), which means that the values had returned more or less toward the initial values measured. In contrast, endothelial thickness did not vary following administration of brimonidine 0.1% (P=0.965). With treatment with brimonidine 0.1%, mean intraocular pressure in thin corneas (<556 μm) was lower than in the thick corneas (>556 μm, P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS:
Topical administration of brimonidine 0.1% results in a reversible increase in corneal thickness. The question whether this increase is of clinical significance and whether it is the result of epithelial and/or endothelial receptor stimulation cannot be finally answered at the present time.
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Authors | Matthias Grueb, Joerg Mielke, Jens Martin Rohrbach, Torsten Schlote |
Journal | Journal of ocular pharmacology and therapeutics : the official journal of the Association for Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics
(J Ocul Pharmacol Ther)
Vol. 27
Issue 5
Pg. 503-9
(Oct 2011)
ISSN: 1557-7732 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21797667
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Chemical References |
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
- Antihypertensive Agents
- Quinoxalines
- Brimonidine Tartrate
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Topics |
- Administration, Ophthalmic
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists
(pharmacology)
- Adult
- Antihypertensive Agents
(pharmacology)
- Brimonidine Tartrate
- Cornea
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Double-Blind Method
- Epithelium, Corneal
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Intraocular Pressure
(drug effects)
- Male
- Prospective Studies
- Quinoxalines
(pharmacology)
- Time Factors
- Young Adult
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