THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DAPIPRAZOLE IN PREVENTING EXERCISE-INDUCED IOP INCREASE IN PATIENTS WITH PIGMENTARY DISPERSION SYNDROME

Purpose. The authors investigated the use of dapiprazole, an alpha-adr energic blocking agent, in preventing pigment release and IOP increase after exercise in patients affected with PDS. Methods. Three young my opic males (31, 34 and 35 years old) affected with pigmentary dispersi on syndrome performed 30 minutes of jogging on a computerized treadmil l. Telemetric heartbeat measurement was performed to obtain constant p ulse rate training. Computerized tonography and IOP measurement were p erformed 10 minutes after the exercise. After one month the patients r epeated the same exercise after pre-treatment with dapiprazole 0.5% ey edrops (one drop 30, 20 and 10 minutes before the exercise). Ten minut es after the exercise IOP measurements and computerized tonography wer e repeated. Results. After 30 minutes of exercise IOP measurements sho wed values ranging from 19 to 45 mmHg (mean 30.33; SD 8.73). Computeri zed tonography C values after exercise ranged from 0.04 to 0.16 (mean 0.09; SD 0.04). After pre-treatment with dapiprazole 0.5% eyedrops, IO P Values ranged from 18 to 28 mmHg (mean 23.33; SD 3.44) and tonograph y C values ranged from 0.10 to 0.20 (mean 0.14; SD 0.03). Conclusions. The study supports the concept that exercise-induced pigment release temporarily obstructs the acqueous outflow channels, causing IOP incre ase in some patients with PDS. Pre-treatment with dapiprazole was usef ul in reducing IOP spikes and in increasing tonographic total outflow facility after exercise. The absence of induced myopia and the lack of dangerous vitreoretinal tractions on retinal periphery make dapiprazo le a safe method to reduce exercise-induced pigment dispersion.