Abstract
Background: Previous studies have shown that both a single dose of levodopa and a 1-week administration of levodopa improve visual functions in adult amblyopic patients. In the present study, we investigated the effect of increased dosage and duration of levodopa on amblyopes' visual functions. • Methods: Visual acuity and visual fields were examined before and after 3 weeks of daily administration of levodopa/carbidopa as well as 1 month and 2 months after completion of drug therapy in a double masked-design. • Results: A significant increase in visual acuities and a decrease in fixation point scotomas were found. Changes were of comparable dimension to those found after 1 week of levodopa administration. Improvement of visual functions persisted 2 months after the levodopa/carbidopa administration was completed. • Conclusion: The present study confirms previous findings of improvement in visual function in amblyopia after levodopa/carbidopa administration. However, increasing the dosage and the duration of levodopa did not enhance the effect in adults.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gottlob I, Stangler-Zuschrott E (1990) Effect of levodopa on contrast sensitivity and scotomas in human amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:776–780
Gottlob I, Charlier J, Reinecke RD (1992) Visual acuities and scotomas after one week of levodopa administration in human amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 33:2722–2728
Haase W, Hohmann A (1982) Ein neuer Test (C-Test) zur quantitativen Prffung der Trennschwierigkeiten (“crowding”) — Ergebnisse bei Amblyopie und Ametropie. Klin Monatsbl Augenheilkd 180:210–215
Leguire LE, Rogers GL, Bremer DL, Walson P, Hadjiconstantinou-Neff M (1992) Levodopa and childhood amblyopia. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 29:290–298
Leguire LE, Rogers GL, Bremer DL, Watson P, McGregor M (1993) Levodopa/carbidopa for childhood amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 34:3090–3095
Leguire LE, Rogers GL, Walson P, Bremer DL, Mc Gregor M (1993) Longitudinal study for levodopa/carbidopa for childhood amblyopia. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci [Suppl] 34:710
Westheimer G (1979) Scaling of visual acuity measurements. Arch Ophthalmol 97:327–330
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Affiliated with the First University Eye Clinic, Vienna, Austria
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gottlob, I., Wizov, S.S. & Reinecke, R.D. Visual acuities and scotomas after 3 weeks' levodopa administration in adult amblyopia. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 233, 407–413 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180943
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180943