Continued use of dorzolamide for the treatment of cystoid macular oedema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the value of a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor for extended treatment of cystoid macular oedema (CME) in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP).


METHODS
Eight patients with RP and foveal cystic-appearing lesions observed on fundus examination and by optical coherence tomography (OCT) testing were treated with a topical form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.


RESULTS
Foveal cystic-like spaces were documented by OCT testing in all eight patients before treatment. All patients had a significant reduction in their foveal thickness (FT) and foveal zone thickness (FZT) in at least one eye after using 2% dorzolamide three times a day for 1 or 2 months. Six patients had an improvement in both eyes. After an additional 6-13 months of the same treatment regimen, out of six patients who had a sustained reduction in FT and FZT in at least one eye, four had this reduction in both eyes. While they were still taking Trusopt, a recurrence (rebound) of CME in both eyes was observed in two patients, whereas one patient had a sustained improvement in one eye and rebound of CME in the other eye. Out of 8 patients, 3 showed an improvement in their visual acuity by > or =7 letters, in at least one eye, on Snellen acuity charts, which was determined as clinically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study suggest that patients with RP could potentially sustain a beneficial effect from continued treatment with a topical form of carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.
Fishman
Gerald A
GA
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. gerafish@uic.edu
Apushkin
Marsha A
MA
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005584:Fovea Centralis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012174:Retinitis Pigmentosa / Q000150:complications*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity
D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C062765:dorzolamide