Topical dorzolamide for the treatment of cystoid macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if topical dorzolamide, as observed with the use of systemic acetazolamide and methazolamide, would be effective in treating cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).


METHODS
Prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial.


METHODS
setting: Institutional. patients: Fifteen patients with CME and RP. intervention: A baseline visual acuity and optical coherence tomography (OCT) measurements were obtained in all patients. Each one of them was then treated with topical dorzolamide, three times a day, for at least four weeks in both eyes. main outcome measures: Significant decrease in "foveal thickness" (more than 16%) and "foveal zone thickness" (more than 11%), as measured by OCT.


RESULTS
Thirteen (87%) of 15 patients showed a significant decrease in retinal thickness in at least one eye after use of topical dorzolamide for at least four weeks. Five patients (33%) demonstrated improvement in both eyes. All patients, except one, who responded showed the effect within four weeks, but were monitored for a period of two to nine months (average 4.5 months). Four patients (31%) who showed an initial improvement in macular edema showed worsening with continued treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study documents the potential efficacy of topical dorzolamide for treating CME in patients with RP. We observed that some patients may show a "rebound phenomenon" with continued use of the medication; hence, there is a need for careful follow-up in patients being treated.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1855 West Taylor Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.
Sandeep
S
Grover
Marsha A
MA
Apushkin
Gerald A
GA
Fishman
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D014792:Visual Acuity
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C062765:dorzolamide