Effects of brimonidine timolol fixed combination therapy on anterior ocular segment configuration.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

To assess the effects of brimonidine and of brimonidine and timolol fixed combination (BTFC) therapy on the pupil and angle structures in both normal subjects and in open angle glaucoma patients.

METHODS:

For the first study, 60 healthy normal subjects were divided into 2 groups. In group 1, brimonidine was administered to the right eye and timolol to the left eye. In group 2, a BTFC was administered to the right eye and pilocarpine 2% to the left eye. All subjects had a full ophthalmic examination including IOL master, ORB II scan and three times of Visante OCT both before and after instillation of the eyedrops. After testing, we analyzed the pupil size, anterior chamber depth and anterior chamber angle parameters including angle opening distance, trabecular-iris space area, angle recess area and trabecular-iris angle. In the second study, we evaluated the effects of BTFC therapy on the anterior chamber over time through reviewing ORB scan data of glaucoma patients who had instilled BTFC for at least 6 months (n = 126).

RESULTS:

Brimonidine and BTFC therapy caused miosis and widening of most of the anterior chamber angle parameters without changing the anterior chamber depth. The effects of BTFC on the angle were likely to be greater than those resulting from the use of pilocarpine. The miotic effects remained during instillation of BTFC.

CONCLUSION:

Brimonidine and BTFC cause passive miosis with angle widening; these results could be applied in the treatment of various types of glaucoma.

• Authors: Joon Mo Kim, Ki Ho Park, Chan Yun Kim, Hwang Ki Kim, Tae-Woo Kim, Mo Sae Kim
• Journal: Japanese journal of ophthalmology (Jpn J Ophthalmol) Vol. 55 Issue 4 Pg. 356-361 (Jul 2011) ISSN: 1613-2246 [Electronic] Japan
• PMID: 21681417 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antihypertensive Agents
• Drug Combinations
• Ophthalmic Solutions
• Quinoxalines
• Pilocarpine
• Brimonidine Tartrate
• Timolol

Topics

• Adult
• Anterior Eye Segment (drug effects)
• Antihypertensive Agents (administration & dosage)
• Brimonidine Tartrate
• Drug Combinations
• Female
• Glaucoma, Open-Angle (drug therapy)
• Gonioscopy
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (drug effects)
• Male
• Ophthalmic Solutions (administration & dosage)
• Pilocarpine (administration & dosage)
• Pupil (drug effects)
• Quinoxalines (administration & dosage)
• Timolol (administration & dosage)
• Tonometry, Ocular