REDUCTION OF MACULAR EDEMA BY ACETAZOLAMIDE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC IRIDOCYCLITIS - A RANDOMIZED PROSPECTIVE CROSSOVER STUDY

Thirty patients with cystoid macular oedema secondary to chronic irido cyclitis were enrolled in a two period, prospective, randomised, doubl e masked, crossover study that compared sustained release acetazolamid e (500 mg twice a day) with a placebo to measure the effects on the re duction of cystoid macular oedema and improvement of visual acuity. Al l patients were treated for 1 month with either acetazolamide or place bo, received no treatment for 1 month, and were then treated for 1 mon th with the other medication. Statistically significant improvement in visual acuity was seen at 14 and 28 days in the treated patients. No improvement was seen when patients received placebo. Improved visual a cuity was not associated with race or sex. However, younger patients ( under age 55 years) were more likely to benefit from treatment. Result s of vitreous fluorophotometry, obtained at baseline and 4 weeks, demo nstrated an improvement in posterior vitreous penetration ratios and m id vitreous penetration ratios after treatment with acetazolamide but not with placebo.