Brimonidine as a possible treatment for myopia

• Published in: BMC ophthalmology Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 161
• Main Authors: Peng, Zixuan, Xiang, Aiqun, He, Hong, Luo, Yaqi, Wu, Shunliang, Luo, Yanting, Yang, Junming, Nie, Ke, Zhong, Xingwu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 11.04.2024; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Animals; Brimonidine; Drug delivery systems; Form deprivation; Guinea pig; Investigations; Myopia; Public health; Ultrasonic imaging; Ultrasound imaging; Brimonidine; Guinea pig; Form deprivation; Myopia
• ISSN: 1471-2415; 1471-2415
• DOI: 10.1186/s12886-024-03433-6

Myopia is becoming a huge burden on the world's public health systems. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of brimonidine in the treatment of form-deprivation myopia (FDM) and the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and myopia development. Monocular form deprivation myopia (FDM) was induced in three-week-old pigmented male guinea pigs. They were treated with 3 different methods of brimonidine administration (eye drops, and subconjunctival or intravitreal injections). Four different concentrations of brimonidine were tested for each method (2µg/µL, 4µg/µL, 20µg/µL, and 40µg/µL). All treatments continued for a period of 21 days. Tonometry, retinoscopy, and A-scan ultrasonography were used to monitor intraocular pressure, refractive error and axial length (AL), respectively. Treatment with subconjunctival brimonidine at 40µg/µL, and intravitreal brimonidine at 2µg/µL and 4µg/µL, inhibited the development of FDM. The myopic refraction, excessive axial length, and elevation of IOP were significantly decreased. Brimonidine in eye drops was ineffective. Brimonidine at appropriate doses significantly reduced the development of FD myopia in guinea pigs. The IOP may change with FD myopia.