Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To measure the aqueous humor flow and intraocular pressure (IOP) in human eyes treated with brimonidine and dorzolamide, alone and in combination. Methods: A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled study was performed in 20 healthy human subjects. Aqueous humor flow was measured by clearance of fluorescein with a fluorophotometer and IOP with tonometry. Results: Brimonidine, dorzolamide, and the combination of brimonidine and dorzolamide suppressed aqueous humor flow by 28.2% (p<.0001), 19.3% (p<.007) and 37.2% (p<.0001) compared with placebo. The combination of both drugs suppressed aqueous humor flow significantly compared with dorzolamide alone (p<.001) and brimonidine alone (p=.040). Brimonidine, dorzolamide, and the combination of brimonidine and dorzolamide reduced IOP by 11.6% (p<.0001), 8.5% (p=.017) and 17.9% (p=.0003) compared with placebo. The combination of both drugs reduced IOP significantly compared with dorzolamide (p=.0004), but not compared with brimonidine (p=.062). Conclusion: The combination of brimonidine and dorzolamide caused a further reduction in aqueous humor flow compared with each drug applied alone. The IOP was further reduced by the combination when compared with dorzolamide alone, but not with dorzolamide.
Keywords: 324 aqueous • 444 intraocular pressure • 514 pharmacology