Levodopa and Other Pharmacologic Interventions in Ischemic and Traumatic Optic Neuropathies and Amblyopia

The visual impairment in traumatic and ischemic optic neuropathy and amblyopia may be permanent. Hence, lots of efforts have been focused on neuroprotection. Dopamine is one of the suggested neuroprotective agents. Besides its important role in the brain, dopamine is found in various cell types of the retina, and is claimed to play a neuromodulator and neurotransmitter role there. The dopamine D1 receptor is the most highly expressed subtype of dopamine receptors, and its activation has been shown to be potentially neuroprotective against oxidative-stress damage in retinal neurons. Levodopa, a precursor of dopamine, can easily breach the blood-brain and blood-retinal barriers, and exerts effective dopaminergic responses in the brain and retina. This article summarizes and discusses the use of levodopa and other pharmacologic agents in the treatment of 3 groups of visual pathway disorders that primarily involve neuronal systems: ischemic optic neuropathy, traumatic optic neuropathy, and amblyopia.