DORZOLAMIDE DROPS MAY HELP VISION IN PATIENTS WITH RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA AND USHER SYNDROME

Arch Ophthalmol -- Abstract: Efficacy of Sustained Topical Dorzolamide Therapy for Cystic Macular Lesions in Patients With Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome, September 2010, Genead and Fishman 128 (9): 1146

Retinitis Pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome are genetic eye conditions that significantly decrease vision. One of the clinical characteristics is swelling on the macula, that part of the retina that serves central vision.

Dorzolamide is a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor used primarily in the treatment of glaucoma, commonly known as Trusopt. This study tested the use of dorzolamide for macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa and Usher Syndrome. The results and conclusion are below:

Results Among the study cohort, 20 of 32 patients (63%) showed a positive response to treatment in at least 1 eye and 13 patients (41%) showed a positive response in both eyes. Four patients (20%) showed an initial response and a subsequent rebound of macular cysts. In 8 patients (25%), there was no response to treatment and the macular cysts worsened when compared with the pretreatment level. Ten patients (31%) had improvement in visual acuity by 7 or more letters in at least 1 eye at the most recent follow-up visit. Sixteen patients (67%) showed a reduction of more than 11% in the central foveal zone thickness in at least 1 eye when compared with the pretreatment level.

Conclusions Patients with either retinitis pigmentosa or Usher syndrome who received treatment of cystoid macular edema with topical dorzolamide followed by an optical coherencetomography–guided strategy showed a decrease in central foveal zone thickness in most cases. Visual acuity improved in almost one-third of the cases, suggesting a potential corresponding visual benefit.