Abstract
Purpose: :
To prospectively evaluate the efficacy of a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor on macular edema after vitrectomy.
Methods: :
20 patients after vitrectomy for epiretinal membranes were included in this prospective trial. 10 eyes of 20 patients received topical 2% dorzolamide, three times a day. The patients were followed-up for 3 months at least. In this study, the effect of dorzolamide on visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure, central macular thickness (CMT), and aqueous flare was evaluated.
Results: :
Mean VA at the preoperation, and 2weeks, 1 and 3 months after operation between the treatment group (0.33 (20/60.6), 0.25 (20/80), 0.40 (20/50), and 0.58 (20/34.5) ) and the control group (0.4 (20/50), 0.36 (20/55.6), 0.48 (20/41.7), and 0.68 (20/29.4) ) were not statistically significant. Mean CMT at the preoperation, 2weeks and 3 months after operation, and mean aqueous flare at the operation, and 1 and 3 months between the treatment group (572.6, 427.2, and 333.4μm: 8.6, 34.2, and 23.5ph/ms) and the control group (571.4, 485.2, and 388.4μm: 9.7, 24.7, and 23.4ph/ms) were not statistically significant. But mean CMT at 1 month and mean aqueous flare at 2weeks after operation between the treatment group (358.8μm, 36.8ph/ms) and the control group (467.8μm, 64.0 ph/ms) were statistically significant (p<0.05). Mean intraocular pressure at the preoperation, and at 2weeks, 1 and 3 months after operation between the treatment group and the control group were not statistically significant, and intraocular pressure never exceeded 21mmHg.
Conclusions: :
Topical dorzolamide significantly reduced mean CMT at 1 month after operation for epiretinal membranes compared with control. Although further investigation on more cases and longer follow-up are needed, this study suggests that a topical dorzolamide can be efficacious in reducing macular edema in the early phase of post-vitrectomy via anti-inflammatory.
Keywords: macula/fovea • edema • drug toxicity/drug effects