Effect of brimonidine tartrate 0.15% on night-vision difficulty and contrast testing after refractive surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15% in patients with night-vision difficulties after laser refractive surgery.


METHODS
Center for Refractive Surgery, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.


METHODS
Six patients with significant night-vision complaints after refractive surgery were enrolled in this study after other treatable causes of night-vision difficulty such as residual refractive error and dry eye were excluded. Low-contrast visual acuity (LCVA) over a range of contrasts (1.25% to 25%) and small letter contrast sensitivity were tested at photopic (100 cd/m(2)) and mesopic (1 cd/m(2)) luminance levels, with and without a standard glare source. Testing was performed before brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15% was administered. Measurements were repeated 1 hour and 1 month after the use of brimonidine tartrate.


RESULTS
One hour after using brimonidine tartrate 0.15% solution, patients had significant improvement in LCVA, LCVA with glare, and contrast sensitivity. After 1 month of treatment, all 6 patients reported subjective improvement in night vision and there was a significant difference in performance in mesopic LCVA and mesopic LCVA with glare. The mean pupil size before administration of brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15% was 6.44 mm +/- 1.11 (SD). Pupil size 1 hour after instillation had decreased to 4.53 +/- 1.27 mm and at 1 month had increased to 6.50 +/- 0.94 mm.


CONCLUSIONS
Brimonidine tartrate ophthalmic solution 0.15% improved contrast sensitivity and acuity and decreased night-vision difficulty for up to 1 month in patients with significant complaints after refractive surgery.
Edwards
Jayson D
JD
Ophthalmology Service, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20307, USA. jayson.edwards@amedd.army.mil
Burka
Jenna M
JM
Bower
Kraig S
KS
Stutzman
Richard D
RD
Sediq
Denise A
DA
Rabin
Jeff C
JC
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D020731:Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D009755:Night Blindness / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate