EFFECT OF LOCALLY PREPARED 1% TOPICAL EPINEPHRINE IN CHRONIC SIMPLE GLAUCOMA: AN OLD STUDY REVISITED

Abstract

Introduction: The treatment of open angle glaucoma has always been problematic because of insidious onset, painless chronic destruction of optic nerve with overlapping age group of cataract to which it is quite often confused not only by a layman but most of the general practitioners too.

Aim: To evaluate efficacy of locally made topical epinephrine in lowering intra-ocular pressure in chronic simple glaucoma.

Material and methods: The work was undertaken in 50 patients at General Hospital, Udaipur. The drug was instilled into the eye 12 hourly for 3 months and the effects evaluated.

Results: 1.Average reduction in intraocular pressure in pressure range of 20-30 mm Hg was 37.6 percent both eye after 15 days of drug therapy. In intraocular pressure range 31 - 40 mm Hg , the fall in intraocular pressure was 40 percent RE and 37.6 percent LE after 15 days.  In patients with intraocular pressure more than 40 mm Hg, the average reduction in tension after 15 days was 47 percent RE and 36.9 percent LE.

2.With initial increase in pupillary size by 0.5 to 4.0 mm on 1st day and 0.5 - 2.0 mm on 2nd day in most of the patients, the pupil returned to the original size on 3rd day and maintained at subsequent visit.

3.No change in pulse, blood pressure and respiration was observed.

4. No effect on visual acuity, fundus and field changes was found.

Conclusion: Epinephrine is very effective and advantageous drug in the management of chronic simple glaucoma patients with pressure range of 20-40 mm Hg.