Brimonidine as a possible treatment for myopia

Background: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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.

Conclusion: Brimonidine at appropriate doses significantly reduced the development of FD myopia in guinea pigs. The IOP may change with FD myopia.