The Effect of a Decrease in Intraocular Pressure on Optic Nerve Function in Patients with Optic Nerve Drusen.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Optic disk drusen (ODD) can lead to optic neuropathy.
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a key factor in optic nerve health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare optic nerve function in eyes with brinzolamide-treated ODD and fellow control eyes.
• To evaluate the effect of IOP reduction on ODD-related optic neuropathy.

Main Methods:

• 34 patients with bilateral ODD were included.
• Brinzolamide was used to lower IOP in affected eyes; fellow eyes served as controls.
• Evaluations included visual field testing, pattern electroretinography (PERG), pattern visual-evoked potentials (PVEP), and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness measurements over 12 months.

Main Results:

• Brinzolamide-treated eyes showed improved visual field indices and increased PERG N95 amplitude.
• RNFL thickness stabilized in treated eyes.
• Control eyes exhibited a significant decrease in RNFL thickness.

Conclusions:

• Reduced IOP in ODD eyes improves retinal ganglion cell function and delays optic neuropathy progression.
• Pattern electroretinography (PERG) is a sensitive tool for monitoring ODD-related optic neuropathy.