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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of dorzolamide hydrochloride on central corneal thickness in humans with cornea guttata. DESIGN: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-masked, two-drug cross-over study with ten patients with cornea guttata and 10 healthy controls, who had mean endothelial cell counts of 988 and 2377 cells/2>, respectively. Study medications were 2% dorzolamide and placebo drops applied three times a day for four weeks. Central corneal thickness measurements using ACMaster (Carl Zeiss Meditec AG, Jena, Germany) and Goldmann applanation tonometry were performed at baseline, one day, one week, and four weeks. RESULTS: The mean increases in central corneal thickness after four weeks in eyes with cornea guttata treated with dorzolamide and placebo were 26.3 μm (95% confidence interval, 8.8 to 43.7) and 3.3 μm (95% confidence interval, -0.5 to 7.1), respectively. No statistically significant changes were measured in the healthy control group. Dorzolamide caused a significant decrease in intraocular pressure (P < .01) while placebo did not cause significant changes (P = .50). CONCLUSION: Application of dorzolamide for four weeks resulted in a statistically significant increase in central corneal thickness in patients with compromised corneal endothelium. These results indicate that patients with corneal endothelial problems receiving dorzolamide therapy should be monitored.
Dr. M.G. Wirtitsch, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
11.5.2 Topical (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.5 Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors)
2.2 Cornea (Part of: 2 Anatomical structures in glaucoma)