Effect and side effects of adding 0.2% brimonidine to beta blockers was studied in 44 eyes of 32 glaucoma patients with inadequately controlled intraocular pressure[IOP]with beta blockers alone. Routine eye examination and IOP measurement were performed before the additive therapy. 0.2% brimonidine eye drops were topically applied three times a day with previously used beta blockers. IOP was measured at 1 week, 1 month, and 3months after the combined therapy. Mean IOP was 17.2 +/-1.8 millimeters of mercury before combined therapy ;13.5 +/-1.6 millimeters of mercury after 1 week, 14.3 +/-2.5 millimeters of mercury after 1 month and 13.6 +/-2.3 millimeters of mercury after 3 months of therapy. Side effects of combined therapy were oral dryness[25.0%], ocular pain[9.4%], and blurring[6.3%]. These results indicate that adding 0.2%brimonidine in patients treated with beta blockers causes a further reduction of IOP that may prove to be clinically useful in glaucoma therapy.
Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle* ; Humans ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Brimonidine Tartrate

The present study investigates the role of TGF-beta1 as one of possible etiologic factors of glaucoma by studying the effect of TGF-beta1 on the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase. The cultured samples of trabecular meshwork cells were treated with TGF-beta1 in concentrations of 0, 100, 1000 and 10000 pg/ml. The samples were analysed for the secretion of MMP2 and timp2 through electrophoresis, western blot and TGF-beta1 increased, the secretions of MMP2 and TIMP2 were not significantly changed after 24 hours. But the secretion of MMP2 was decreased while the secretion of TIMP2 was increased after 72 hours. The results suggest that TGFbeta1 may be one of the etilogic factors of glaucoma.
Blotting, Western ; Electrophoresis ; Glaucoma ; Trabecular Meshwork ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1

To know the effect of subconjunctival injection of liposome encapsulated cytarabine on proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts, the conjunctiva was isolated at 180 degrees from the injection site 3 days after subconjunctival injection of the normal saline (control), cytarabine, liposome encapsulated cytarabine, and 1 day after injection of cytarabine, and then those were inoculated in the culture media of fibroblasts. In the case of 3 days after injection of cytarabine, there was 49% and 42% inhibition of proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts compared with the control respectively. Therefore, the authors concluded that the liposome encapsulated cytarabine is effective on inhibition of proliferation of conjunctival fibroblasts and reduces the frequencies of subconjunctival injection compared with the cytarabine itself.
Conjunctiva ; Culture Media ; Cytarabine* ; Fibroblasts* ; Liposomes*

To evaluate the reproducibility of pulsatile ocular blood flow(POBF), bilateral POBFs of 10 volunteers were measured 3 times serially by OBF tonograph system(OBF laboratories, UK Ltd.). The POBFs were recorded in sitting position using pneumotonometer attached at slit lamp. After measurement of POBF, intraoculat pressure(IOP) was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Mean values of pulse amplitude(PA), pulse volume(PV), POBF, IOP were 2.0+/-0.4mmHg, 5.1+/-1.5microliter, 701+/-197microliter/min, 13.9+/-2.5mmHg, respectively. Average of standard deviation of POBF was 7.0+/-1.9%. Mean value of IOP using Goldmann applanation tonometry was 12.8+/-2.6mmHg. Coefficient of reliability of the repeated measurement of POBF was 83%, analyzed by intraclass correlation. Coefficient of variation of the repeated measurement of POBF was 5.2%. Linear regression analysis of the Goldmann applanation tonometer on the measurements of IOP witn the tonograph showed a regression coefficient of 0.91. In conclusion, reproducibility of POBF measurement by OBF tonograph was acceptable and compatible with conventional technique. Further studies are required to measure the POBF in glaucoma patients.
Glaucoma ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Linear Models ; Manometry ; Volunteers

Brimonidine(Alphagan)is a relatively selective-adrenoceptor agonist that activates receptor in the ciliary body, which lowers intraoculat pressure by decreasing aqueous production and increasing uveoscleral outflow. We investigated the short-term intraocular pressure lowering effect and side effect of 0.2% brimonidine in 8 eyes in 8 normal volunteers. Brimonidine was administered every 8 hours for 7 days. The intraocular pressure, pupil size, pulsatile ocular blood flow of both eyes, blood pressure, and pulse rate were obtained 2, 4 and 8 hours, and 1 and 7 days after instillation. The mean intraocular pressure was lowered in both eyes. The blood pressure, pulse rate, and pupil size were not changed before and after the instillation. The pulsatile ocular blood flow was not changed either, The only side effect which patients complanined of was nasal stuffiness in two of the patients. We concluded that 0.2% brimonidine is a good ocular hypotensive drug that has an intraocular pressure lowering effect in normal Koreans and also has few side effects.
Blood Pressure ; Ciliary Body ; Healthy Volunteers ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Pupil ; Brimonidine Tartrate

The object of this study was to observe the refractive errors obtained by near retinoscopy, retinoscopy under cycloplegia and subjective refraction on 244 Korean eyes with refractive error below the age of 90. The results were as follows; A. Comparision between the refractive errors obtained by retinoscopy under cycloplegia and subjective retraction. 1. The difference of spherical powers was 0.59D. 2. The difference Of spherical powers was 0.49D in myopia and 0.76D in hyperopia. 3. The difference of spherical powers was 0.59D in Group I (under age 10), 0.64D in Group II (age 11~20) and 0.45D in Group III (age 21~30). 4. There was not statistically significant difference of spherical powers among the age groups but between myopia and hyperopia. 5. The difference of cylindrical powers was 0.07D. 6. The difference of cylindrical powers was 0.03D. in Group I, 0.12D in Group II and 0.07D in Group III. 7. There was no statistically significant difference of cylindrical powers among the age groups. B. Comparison between the refractive errors obtained by near retinoscopy and subjective refraction 1. The difference of spherical powers was 0.97D. 2. The difference of spherical powers was 0.92D in myopia and 1.05D in hyperopia. 3. The difference of spherical power was 1.03D in Group I, 0.94D in Group II and 0.92D in Group III. 4. There was neither statistically significant difference of spherical powers among tbe age groups nor between myopia and hyperopia. 5. The difference of cylindrical powers was 0.1D. 6. The difference of cylindrical powers was 0.18D in Group I, 0.11D in Group II and 0.04D in Group III. 7. There was no statistically significant defference of cylindrical powers among the groups. C. In this study, regression formula was Y=0.877+0,724X (X : adjusted spherical power obtained by near retinoscopy Y: spherical power obtained by retinoscopy under cycloplegia).
Humans ; Hyperopia ; Myopia ; Refractive Errors ; Retinoscopy*

No abstract available.
Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Connective Tissue Cells/drug effects/metabolism ; Endothelin-1/*biosynthesis ; Fibroblasts/*drug effects/metabolism ; Humans ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1/*pharmacology

The present study investigates the effects of the new Erbium:YAG(yttrium aluminum garnet) laser sclerostomy in eight rabbits eyes. The energy was set at 10mJ per pulse with the frequeny of 10Hz, and the total energy for the full thickness sclerostomy procedure was rated at 90 to 150ml. Following the procedure, the mean intraocualar pressure was significantly reduced for up to 7 days, and the histopathological observation at day 7 revealed clearly demarcated wound margins at the resected sites. The sesults suggest that te Erbium:YAG laser sclerostomy may be a good supportive procedures to conventional treatment of glaucoma.
Aluminum ; Erbium* ; Glaucoma ; Lasers, Solid-State* ; Rabbits* ; Sclerostomy* ; Wounds and Injuries

To evaluate the differences and factors to be considered when measuring intraocular pressure after photorefractive keratectomy[PRK]and laser in situ keratomileusis[LASIK], we prospectively reviewed the medical records of myopic eyes between -4~-7 diopters. Among them, 14 patients, 22 eyes underwent PRK and 10 patients, 18 eyes recieived LASIK. We measured intraocular pressures by Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively in each group. Corneal curvatures, central corneal thicknesses were measured and compared when measuring intraocular pressure. The postoperative intraocular pressure was lower than the preoperative value in both groups[p<0.01], and the decreased amount of IOP were not statistically different in both groups[p=0.29]. Targeted ablation depth[p=0.19]and ablation diameter[p=0.16]did not show statistically significant correlation to postoperative IOP decrease. In measuring intraocular pressure after PRK or LASIK, attention should be given to the pressure and its interpretation.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Manometry ; Medical Records ; Prospective Studies

To evaluate the differences and factors to be considered when measuring intraocular pressure after photorefractive keratectomy[PRK]and laser in situ keratomileusis[LASIK], we prospectively reviewed the medical records of myopic eyes between -4~-7 diopters. Among them, 14 patients, 22 eyes underwent PRK and 10 patients, 18 eyes recieived LASIK. We measured intraocular pressures by Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months postoperatively in each group. Corneal curvatures, central corneal thicknesses were measured and compared when measuring intraocular pressure. The postoperative intraocular pressure was lower than the preoperative value in both groups[p<0.01], and the decreased amount of IOP were not statistically different in both groups[p=0.29]. Targeted ablation depth[p=0.19]and ablation diameter[p=0.16]did not show statistically significant correlation to postoperative IOP decrease. In measuring intraocular pressure after PRK or LASIK, attention should be given to the pressure and its interpretation.
Humans ; Intraocular Pressure ; Keratomileusis, Laser In Situ* ; Manometry ; Medical Records ; Prospective Studies