Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the effect of topical phenylephrine (PE) on choroidal thickness (CT) as measured by enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI OCT).
Methods: :
The vasoconstrictive effect of topical PE on conjunctival vessels is well known, but its effect on the choroidal vasculature has yet to be studied. Prospective, non-randomized study involving 57 eyes of 31 patients. Four groups of patients were recruited: healthy controls (15 eyes of 8 patients); and individuals with systemic hypertension (15 eyes of 8 patients), age-related macular degeneration (15 eyes of 9 patients), and diabetic retinopathy (12 eyes of 6 patients). Participants were excluded for myopia or hyperopia (> 6 diopters) and other conditions thought to affect CT. Systemic blood pressure, pulse, and EDI OCT images were obtained before instillation of 2.5% PE ophthalmic drops and again 30 minutes after. Pre and post drop CT was measured subfoveally from the outer border of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) to the inner scleral border by a masked grader using the standard software within the Spectralis OCT (Heidelberg, Carlsbad, CA). In eyes with distorted RPE, such as in exudative macular degeneration, Bruch’s membrane was used as the anterior measurement boundary instead of RPE.
Results: :
Mean patient age was 70 years (range 65 to 75 years). The mean (± SD) subfoveal CT was 255 µm (± 93) prior to and 253 µm (± 94) 30 minutes after PE instillation. There was no significant difference in CT before and after PE drops in between each of the four groups of patients (p > 0.05). The mean systolic blood pressure, mean diastolic pressure, and pulse were not significantly different before and after drop instillation (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). Also, no significant difference was found in these parameters when examined separately in each of the 4 subgroups.
Conclusions: :
Topical ophthalmic 2.5% phenylephrine does not alter choroidal thickness.
Clinical Trial: :
IRBMED, HUM00046637
Keywords: choroid • drug toxicity/drug effects