CHANGES IN OCULAR REFRACTILE COMPONENTS IN ELDERLY GLAUCOMA PATIENTS FOLLOWING PILOCARPINE TREATMENT

Although the influence of pilocarpine on ocular refraction is well-kno wn, there are only a few reports concerning its effects on different r efractile elements in the eyes of glaucoma patients. The authors (T.O. , Z.T., G.R., T.L., and Y.Y.) measured the effect of pilocarpine on le ns thickness, anterior chamber depth, intraocular pressure (IOP), axia l length of the globe, corneal curvature, and refraction. The authors used biometric ruler for length measurements, EyeSys Corneal Topograph y System for corneal curvature measurement, and autorefractometer to a ccess the refraction. The authors focused on a group of elderly patien ts, which mostly consisted of simple glaucoma patients. Seventeen eyes (9 patients) were checked for all parameters, before initiation of tr eatment with pilocarpine 2% four times a day, after one week, and afte r one month of treatment. The authors found significant reduction in a nterior chamber depth, correlated with significant increase in lens th ickness. These changes were not correlated to the reduction of IOP. Th ere were no significant changes in refraction, axial length, or cornea l curvature. The authors conclude that the main affect of pilocarpine on elderly eyes is thickening the lens, thus shallowing the anterior c hamber. This effect on the lens is not related to the IOP changes, and causes no significant refractive change.