Eyedrops for floaters

Session Details

Session Title: Training and Innovation

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 10/10/2017 | 16:30-18:00

Paper Time: 17:42

Venue: Room 4.4

First Author: : H.Kaymak GERMANY

Co Author(s): :    A. Fricke   P. Hagen   G. Auffarth   D. Breyer   K. Klabe   R. Fulga     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Floaters are usually harmless, but can be extremely disturbing in some situations. Till now our therapy options include laser vitreolysis or as a last option a vitrectomy. The use of low doses of atropine eye drops leads to a pupil dilation, which reduces the shadow formation on the retina due to the floaters. This can contribute to a much better quality of life of the patient.

Setting:

Internationale Innovative Ophthalmochirurgie Düsseldorf, Germany; International Vision Correction Research Network, Germany

Methods:

Retrospectively, 38 eyes were evaluated. Preoperative and postoperative subjective refraction, eye pressure, accommodation, pupil dynamics with Topcon (Aladdin), optomap photography with wide angle System from Optos, OCT with Topcon (DRI OCT) and Zeiss (Cirus HD OCT), and a 'quality-of-life test' were investigated. The treatments were carried out over a period of one month. Only patients who complained of massive impairment by floaters in daily life and who reported an improvement in the symptoms during a maximum diagnostic mydriasis were treated. Patients with acute posterior vitreous and uveitis were excluded.

Results:

The eyedrops were used in the evening with a dose of 0.01% (26 patients) or 0.005% (6 patients). The mean pupil width increased on the average by about 1 mm without subjective deterioration of visual acuity and accommodation. In 70% of the patients, there was a marked improvement in symptoms, 20% to a mild improvement, and 10% in the selected patient group, the symptoms did not improve. None of the patients reported an allergic reaction, burning or itching of the eyes.

Conclusions:

The use of low-dose atropine eye droplets seams to be a good, non-invasive and safe alternative to laser vitreolysis and possibly to vitrectomy. A suitable selection of patients with the appropriate dose of atropine is indispensable for good success.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE