[Change in corneal sensitivity after topical dorzolamide administration. A comparative study].

BACKGROUND

The new antiglaucoma drug, dorzolamide, mainly evokes local side effects like eye burning, pruritus, blurred sight and a foreign-body sensation. A clinical study was conducted to determine it dorzolamide has any influence on corneal sensitivity.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

We examined three different groups of substances. We used sodium chloride solution 0.9% and the local anesthetic oxybuprocaine 0.4% as control groups, each in two subgroups aged 23-40 years or 60-86 years. Corneal sensitivity was measured in the corneal center with Draeger's electronic optic aesthesiometer. We took the measurements directly before and 1,5,10,15 and 20 min after applying one eye drop.

RESULTS

The control groups with sodium chloride solution showed no significant (P > 0.05) corneal hyposensitivity. The local anesthetic caused corneal asensitivity (P < 0.05) until the 10-min measurement. Twenty minutes after giving the anesthetic, with 12.10(-5) N corneal sensitivity nearly reached the starting value. At this time corneal sensitivity in the older subgroup was still decreased with 627.10(-5) N. In the younger subgroup dorzolamide only caused slight, but significant (P < 0.05), hyposensitivity of the cornea 1 and 5 min after application of the eye drop.

CONCLUSION

Although dorzolamide decreases corneal sensitivity only a little, people with glaucoma using contact lenses should not insert them until at least 15 min after applying the dorzolamide.