ISSN: 1300-0365
Dil: Türkçe
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The Effect Of Topical Brimonidine On Ocular Surface
Ümit Übeyt İNAN*, Sıtkı Samet ERMİŞ*, Fatma AKTEPE**, Faruk ÖZTÜRK***, Hüsniye DİLEK**
* Yrd.Doç.Dr., Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göz Hastalıkları AD** Yrd.Doç.Dr., Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Patoloji AD***Doç.Dr. Kocatepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Göz Hastalıkları AD, AFYON
Objective: To determine the effect of short term usage of topical brimonidine on ocular surface in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT) or primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).Material and Methods: Seventeen patients with POAG or OHT, who were started brimonidine, were enrolled into the study. Conjunctival specimens were taken from the temporal conjunctiva in the right eyes with brush cytology. Approximately after 3.95±0.8 (3-5 months) months starting the brimonidine treatment, conjunctival cytology was repeated from the same conjunctival region in the same patients. Specimens were graded according to Nelson's classification of squamous metaplasia state of the epithelial cells. Goblet cells were also counted one by one before and after treatment.Results: One patient was excluded from the study because of allergic side effects. Of the specimens taken from 16 eyes, 4 were evaluated as grade 0, 11 as grade 1 and 1 as grade 2. After the treatment, grade 0 was not established in none of the specimens. Eight (50%) eyes were evaluated as grade 1, 7 (44%) eyes as grade 2 and 1 (6%) eye as grade 3. In 4 eyes, stage of the cytology did not change, but in the other eyes the stage of cytology progressed to further stages. The differences between cytology scores before and after the treatment were statistically significant (Chi square test, p<0.05). Goblet cells decreased significantly after treatment (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05)Conclusion: Even short-term use of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% has caused significant adverse effects on the ocular surface and decreased number of goblet cells. The ocular surface alterations related to long-term topical brimonidine usage may give rise to certain symptoms and affects adversely success of further filtering surgeryKeywords: Topical brimonidine, Brush cytology, Ocular surface, Goblet cellsTurkiye Klinikleri J Ophthalmol 2003, 12:21-28
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