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OPHTHALMOLOGY
Author(s) -
ANGUS MacGILLIVRAY
Publication year - 1960
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1960.tb68475.x
Subject(s) - ophthalmology , medicine
B. BECKER AND T. GAGE (A.M.A. Arch. Ophthal.. January, 1960) present their observations on the use of demecarium bromide and eehothiophate iodide in a group of glaucoma patients not controlled by other forms of therapy. Demecarium bromide was used in 144 eyes of 76 patients and echothiophate iodide therapy was started in 155 eyes of 83 patients. Patients were treated with 0'25% solution instilled once daily and in those who failed to respond demecarium bromide was used in I % solution. Demecarium bromide 0·25% solution improved facility of outflow and lowered intraocular pressure in about 50% of eyes not previously controlled. When 1% solution was used for those which failed to respond to 0·25%, the percentage improved to 54. Echothiophate 0·25% also controlled intraocular pressure in 54% of another group. Ocular side effects were ciliary and conjunctival injection, blurring of vision, ocular and periorbital pain and headache. These symptoms rarely persisted after one week. Bilateral retinal detachment occurred in two patients. Systemic side effects were nausea, vomiting, diarrhcea, bradycardia, salivation and sweating. Failure to recognize the systemic effects of these drugs has resulted in extensive unnecessary medical and X·ray investigations.