TOPICAL IBOPAMINE AND CORTICOSTEROIDS IN THE TREATMENT OF POSTSURGERYOCULAR HYPOTONY

Purpose: The aim of the present preliminary study, performed on post-s urgical hypotony, was the evaluation of the effects on ocular hypotony of the concomitant administration of ibopamine and corticosteroids. M ethods: 14 patients (11 males - 3 females; mean age 47 years) with ocu lar hypotony following several vitroretinal surgical intervention in d ifferent districts, were enrolled. The inclusion criteria were: mean I OP during tonometric curve equal or lower than 6 mmHg, stable IOP for at least 60 days, ongoing treatment with 0.1% dexamethasone (4 times/d ay), successful surgical intervention, 2% ibopamine (4 times/day) was added to the corticosteroid therapy for 30-60 days. Results: Before ib opamine administration, mean IOP was 4.07 mmHg SD 1.71. At the end of the treatment period, mean IOP increased by 89% in comparison to basel ine values (+ 3.64 mmHg SD 5.57). This difference was statistically si gnificant (paired t = 2.39; P = 0.03). One month after ibopamine-treat ment discontinuation, mean IOP decreased to pre-treatment values (4.86 mmHg SD 3.50). Conclusions: The results of the present study, althoug h preliminary, suggest the possibility of a future pharmacological tre atment of ocular hypotony with ibopamine, whose rationale is based on the increase of aqueous humor production by stimulating the D1 dopamin ergic receptor.