LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF GLAUCOMA THERAPY WITH 4-PERCENT PILOCARPINE GEL ON CORNEAL CLARITY AND ENDOTHELIAL-CELL DENSITY

Corneal thickness measurements and endothelial cell counts were carrie d out in 34 patients undergoing treatment for glaucoma with 4% pilocar pine gel between 18 to 78 months after initiation of therapy. The corn eal thickness and endothelial cell population were found to be within normal limits in all cases except two, one patient with increased corn eal thickness who had recently undergone cataract and glaucoma filteri ng surgery and another patient with decreased cell count who had an ol d endothelial scar sustained prior to pilocarpine gel therapy. There w as a very close correlation for both of these parameters noticed in pa tients treated with pilocarpine gel and in age-matched control group o f patients with glaucoma. The present study has shown that there are n o adverse corneal effects with pilocarpine gel therapy.