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Reduced cyclic myopia with pilocarpine gel
A I Mandell1, L A Bruce, M A Khalifa
1Mid-South Glaucoma and Cataract Foundation, Memphis, Tennessee 38119.
Annals of Ophthalmology
|April 1, 1988
Summary
Pilocarpine 4% gel causes temporary myopia mainly during sleep, unlike the solution which blurs vision for hours. The gel allows for normal daytime activities, making it a potentially more convenient option for myopia induction.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Pilocarpine is used to induce myopia.
- Understanding the duration and impact of pilocarpine-induced myopia is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the effects of pilocarpine 4% gel versus pilocarpine 4% solution on induced myopia in young adults.
- To assess the duration of myopic effects and their impact on daily activities.
Main Methods:
- Young, healthy subjects received either pilocarpine 4% gel or pilocarpine 4% solution.
- Induced myopia was measured.
- The duration of myopic effects and recovery time were recorded.
Main Results:
- Pilocarpine 4% solution caused significant myopia lasting 1-2 hours, potentially causing 3-6 hours of blurred vision with a qid regimen.
- Myopic effects from pilocarpine 4% gel returned to baseline levels in most subjects within 9 hours of a single application.
- Gel-induced myopia primarily occurred during sleep, with minimal impact upon waking.
Conclusions:
- Pilocarpine 4% gel induces transient myopia with a significantly shorter duration of effect compared to the solution.
- The gel formulation allows for normal daily activities due to its effects being predominantly nocturnal.
- Pilocarpine gel may offer a more convenient option for therapeutic myopia induction.