Effects of brimonidine on aqueous humor dynamics in human eyes.

Article Details

Citation
Copy to clipboard

Toris CB, Gleason ML, Camras CB, Yablonski ME

Effects of brimonidine on aqueous humor dynamics in human eyes.

Arch Ophthalmol. 1995 Dec;113(12):1514-7.

PubMed ID
7487618 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the mechanism by which brimonidine, a selective alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) in humans. SUBJECTS: Twenty-one volunteers with ocular hypertension. METHODS: Brimonidine tartrate (0.2%) was given topically twice daily for 1 week to one eye in a randomized, double-masked study. The fellow eye was similarly treated with brimonidine vehicle. Before (baseline) and after 1 week (day 8) of dosing, IOP, aqueous flow, episcleral venous pressure, and tonographic outflow facility were directly measured. Fluorophotometric outflow facility and uveoscleral outflow were calculated. Brimonidine-treated eyes were compared with vehicle-treated contralateral control eyes and with baseline measurements after 1 week of dosing. RESULTS: Brimonidine significantly (P < .001, Student's two-tailed t test) reduced IOP mean +/- SE of 4.7 +/- 0.7 and 4.2 +/- 0.4 mm Hg compared with the baseline day and with the vehicle-treated contralateral control eyes, respectively. Compared with the baseline day, aqueous flow was reduced by 20% (P = .002) and uveoscleral outflow was increased (P = .04). A slight contralateral decrease in IOP of 1.2 +/- 0.6 mm Hg (P = .05) and in aqueous flow of 12% (P = .05) was noted. No significant difference was seen in the outflow facility values or episcleral venous pressure compared with the baseline day or with the contralateral control eye. CONCLUSIONS: The brimonidine-induced reduction in IOP in humans is associated with a decrease in aqueous flow and an increase in uveoscleral outflow. The decrease in IOP and aqueous flow in the contralateral control eye on day 8 compared with the baseline day suggests a mild contralateral effect.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs