Effects of dorzolamide hydrochloride 2% on the retinal circulation.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of a single dose of topical dorzolamide hydrochloride 2%, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, on the retinal circulation of normal subjects.


METHODS
Measurements of the effect of dorzolamide hydrochloride were performed in 20 normal subjects using bidirectional laser Doppler velocimetry and monochromatic fundus photography. In a double-masked randomized design, one eye received one drop of dorzolamide hydrochloride 2 % and the other eye one drop of placebo. Vessel diameter, maximum erythrocyte velocity and volumetric blood flow rate were measured in a main temporal vein of each eye before the drops, and then, 2 h later.


RESULTS
Following treatment, intraocular pressure decreased by 12% in the dorzolamide-treated eye (p = 0.0004, paired Student's t-test) and by 4% in the placebo-treated eye, p = 0.04). No significant changes in venous diameter, maximum erythrocyte velocity, and volumetric blood flow rate were observed in the dorzolamide-treated eyes (0.6%, 2.6% and 1.4%, respectively) or the placebo-treated eyes (1%, 3.7% and 1.6%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
A single drop of dorzolamide hydrochloride does not cause any significant change in any of the hemodynamic parameters measured. With the variability of our measurements, we have about 89% power to detect average 10% change in volumetric blood flow rate if significance testing is performed at p = 0.05 level.
Grunwald
J E
JE
Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
Mathur
S
S
DuPont
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C062765:dorzolamide