[Time course of changes in contrast sensitivity function after application of antiglaucomatous eyedrops].
OBJECTIVE
Some antiglaucomatous eyedrops can cause blurred vision after application. Contrast sensitivity after application, however, has not been examined. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of antiglaucomatous eyedrops on contrast sensitivity function.


METHODS
In 23 eyes of 23 normal volunteers (34.9 +/- 14.5 years [mean +/- SD]), contrast sensitivity was measured before and 2, 5, 10, and 15 minutes after application of antiglaucomatous eyedrops. Three drugs, timolol maleate ion-activated gel, timolol maleate thermosetting gel, and brinzolamide were tested in this study, and the time course of changes in contrast sensitivity after instillation was statistically analyzed and compared between the drugs.


RESULTS
All drugs significantly reduced contrast sensitivity function (p<0.001). The reduction in contrast sensitivity persisted for approximately 5 minutes after instillation of timolol maleate ion-activated gel and brinzolamide. For timolol maleate thermosetting gel, the reduction in contrast sensitivity lasted for about 10 minutes, but the reduction immediately (two minutes) after instillation was significantly smaller than that of the other two drugs (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Instillation of these three drugs temporarily degrades contrast sensitivity function, leading to blurred vision, which should be sufficiently explained to patients before treatment with these eyedrops.
Hiraoka
Takahiro
T
Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba-shi, Ibaraki-ken, Japan. thiraoka@md.tsukuba.ac.jp
Daito
Masakazu
M
Kiuchi
Takahiro
T
Okamoto
Fumiki
F
Oshika
Tetsuro
T
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013997:Time Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000187:drug effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D005782:Gels; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013843:Thiazines; D013999:Timolol; C111827:brinzolamide