[Effect of vasoactive agents on visual functions and ocular blood flow in patients with early manifestations of age-related macular degeneration]

Forty patients aged 40 to 65 years who had non-exudative forms of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including 20 patients with degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), 15 with retinal drusen, and 5 with RPE atrophy were examined. All the patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 comprised 20 patients receiving, in addition to conventional therapy, cavinton forte (1 tablet contains 10 mg of vinpocetine). Group 2 (control) included 20 patients receiving conventional therapy (antioxidants, peptide bioregulators, lutein-containing agents). Medical treatment was performed during 2 months. After a course of cavinton therapy, patients with AMD were observed to have better visual acuity, improved retinal function, and increased a- and b-wave amplitudes on a macular electroretinogram. There was improvement of ocular blood flow values, which is indicative of better uveal blood supply.

PMID: 17672091 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]