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Contrast sensitivity improves after brimonidine therapy in primary open angle glaucoma: a case for neuroprotection

¹ School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
² Neuroscience Research Institute, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK
³ School of Optometry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Sarah L Hosking
Neuroscience Research Institute, Aston University, Aston Triangle, Birmingham B4 7ET, UK; s.l.hosking{at}aston.ac.uk

ABSTRACT
Aims: To determine the visual outcome following initiation of brimonidine therapy in glaucoma.

Methods: 16 newly diagnosed previously untreated glaucoma patients were randomly assigned to either timolol 0.5% or brimonidine 0.2%. Visual acuity, contrast sensitivity (CS), visual fields, intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure, and heart rate were evaluated at baseline and after 3 months.

Results: IOP reduction was similar for both groups (p<0.05). Brimonidine improved CS; in the right eye at 6 and 12 cpd (p = 0.043, p = 0.017); in the left eye at 3 and 12 cpd (p = 0.044, p = 0.046). Timolol reduced CS at 18 cpd in the right eye (p = 0.041). There was no change in any other measured parameters.

Conclusion: Glaucoma patients exhibit improved CS on initiation of brimonidine therapy.

Keywords: primary open angle glaucoma; brimonidine; timolol; contrast sensitivity; neuroprotection