title: Contrast sensitivity improves after brimonidine therapy in primary open angle glaucoma: a case for neuroprotection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the visual outcome following initiation of brimonidine therapy in glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 newly diagnosed previously untreated glaucoma patients were randomly assigned to either timolol 0.5% or brimonidine 0.2%. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (CS), visual fields, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  IOP reduction was similar for both groups (p<0.05). Brimonidine improved CS; in the right eye at 6 and 12 cpd (p=0.043, p=0.017); in the left eye at 3 and 12 cpd (p=0.044, p=0.046). Timolol reduced CS at 18 cpd in the right eye (p=0.041). There was no change in any other measured parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Glaucoma patients exhibit improved CS on initiation of brimonidine therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hosking
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gherghel
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bartlett
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2 / Q000187:drug effects; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D018341:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-2; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D013999:Timolol