INFLUENCE OF DORZOLAMIDE ON CORNEAL THICKNESS, ENDOTHELIAL-CELL COUNTAND CORNEAL SENSIBILITY

Purpose: Dorzolamide (Trusopt(R)) is the first topical carbonic anhydr ase inhibitor (CAI) that is in clinical use in glaucoma therapy. It is known that CAI have a negative effect on corneal endothelial pumpfunc tion and therefore on the ,whole corneal physiology. Methods: 20 patie nts with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension and an elevated in traocular pressure (IOP) over 21 mmHg and without prior oral CAI-treat ment were included in this study, Trusopt was administered t.i.d. as m onotherapy and b.i.d. in combination with other topical antiglaucoma d rugs, Corneal ultrasound pachymetry corneal endothelial cell count and aesthesiometry were performed prestudy and on days 1, 8, 15, 30, 60 a nd 90. Results and Conclusions: Mean corneal thickness was slightly in creased on day one (statistically non-significant) and returned to bas eline measurements at the following visits, no changes in endothelial cell count and corneal aesthesia were found, Topical dorzolamide is no t associated with clinically meaningful changes of the cornea.