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Visual field loss slower with brimonidine than laser treatment in small study
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Brimonidine was more effective than argon laser trabeculoplasty in reducing the rate of visual field loss in patients with glaucoma in a clinical study, according to Stefano Gandolfi, MD. However, brimonidine 0.2% provided slightly less IOP control than the laser treatment, he said.
Dr. Gandolfi performed the study to see whether there was a non-IOP-related effect of brimonidine treatment on visual field progression. He studied 41 eyes of patients with glaucoma who had been treated with two medications and had IOPs of no more than 19 mm Hg at enrollment. Patients underwent a baseline evaluation period of 18 months during which visual fields, optic nerve photos, visual acuity and IOP were followed. The patients were then randomized to therapy with 360° of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) or brimonidine 0.2% twice daily.
Of the 41 eyes, 22 were treated with brimonidine and 19 with ALT. After an additional 18 months of follow-up, the ALT-treated eyes had slightly lower IOPs than the eyes treated with brimonidine. The eyes treated with brimonidine, however, showed slower progression of visual field loss.
Dr. Gandolfi presented this study at the recent Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting.