Topical dorzolamide for the treatment of cystoid macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa

Am J Ophthalmol. 2006 May;141(5):850-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2005.12.030. Epub 2006 Mar 20.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine if topical dorzolamide, as observed with the use of systemic acetazolamide and methazolamide, would be effective in treating cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).

Design: Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial.

Methods: setting: Institutional. patients: Fifteen patients with CME and RP. intervention: A baseline visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements were obtained in all patients. Each one of them was then treated with topical dorzolamide, three times a day, for at least four weeks in both eyes. main outcome measures: Significant decrease in "foveal thickness" (more than 16%) and "foveal zone thickness" (more than 11%), as measured by OCT.

Results: Thirteen (87%) of 15 patients showed a significant decrease in retinal thickness in at least one eye after use of topical dorzolamide for at least four weeks. Five patients (33%) demonstrated improvement in both eyes. All patients, except one, who responded showed the effect within four weeks, but were monitored for a period of two to nine months (average 4.5 months). Four patients (31%) who showed an initial improvement in macular edema showed worsening with continued treatment.

Conclusions: The present study documents the potential efficacy of topical dorzolamide for treating CME in patients with RP. We observed that some patients may show a "rebound phenomenon" with continued use of the medication; hence, there is a need for careful follow-up in patients being treated.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Topical
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Macular Edema / complications
  • Macular Edema / diagnosis
  • Macular Edema / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / complications*
  • Sulfonamides / therapeutic use*
  • Thiophenes / therapeutic use*
  • Tomography, Optical Coherence
  • Visual Acuity

Substances

  • Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors
  • Sulfonamides
  • Thiophenes
  • dorzolamide