Visual acuities and scotomas after 3 weeks' levodopa administration in adult amblyopia.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Previous studies have shown that both a single dose of levodopa and a 1-week administration of levodopa improve visual functions in adult amblyopic patients. In the present study, we investigated the effect of increased dosage and duration of levodopa on amblyopes' visual functions.

METHODS:

Visual acuity and visual fields were examined before and after 3 weeks of daily administration of levodopa/carbidopa as well as 1 month and 2 months after completion of drug therapy in a double masked-design.

RESULTS:

A significant increase in visual acuities and a decrease in fixation point scotomas were found. Changes were of comparable dimension to those found after 1 week of levodopa administration. Improvement of visual functions persisted 2 months after the levodopa/carbidopa administration was completed.

CONCLUSION:

The present study confirms previous findings of improvement in visual function in amblyopia after levodopa/carbidopa administration. However, increasing the dosage and the duration of levodopa did not enhance the effect in adults.

• Authors: I Gottlob, S S Wizov, R D Reinecke
• Journal: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie (Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol) Vol. 233 Issue 7 Pg. 407-13 (Jul 1995) ISSN: 0721-832X [Print] Germany
• PMID: 7557504 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Dopamine Agents
• Levodopa
• Carbidopa

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adolescent
• Adult
• Amblyopia (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Carbidopa (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Dopamine Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Double-Blind Method
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Fixation, Ocular (drug effects)
• Humans
• Levodopa (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Scotoma (drug therapy, physiopathology)
• Visual Acuity (drug effects, physiology)
• Visual Fields (drug effects)