Effect of oral bromocriptine administration on intraocular pressure in normotensive and glaucomatous human subjects

PURPOSE: The authors have verified the effect of orally administered bromocriptine on intraocular pressure in normotensive and glaucomatous human subjects. METHOD: Fifteen healthy volunteers and 15 glaucomatous patients were studied. Intraocular pressure, pupil diameter, total outflow facility, systolic arterial pressure, diastolic arterial pressure, and heart rate were recorded at baseline and at 1-h intervals for 12 h after oral administration of 2. 5 mg bromocriptine or placebo, given in a randomized, double-masked, cross-over fashion. The alternate regimen was given a week later. RESULTS: In all subjects bromocriptine significantly reduced intraocular pressure, whereas no variations in pupil diameter, systolic and diastolic arterial pressures, and heart rate were recorded. Moreover, total outflow facility, measured by conventional tonography, increased significantly both in normotensive and glaucomatous eyes. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that oral bromocriptine administration could represent a new therapy to reduce intraocular pressure in humans