Long term changes in the visual fields of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy using vigabatrin
- aDepartment of Ophthalmology, Academic Hospital Groningen, Netherlands, bDepartment of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands, cDepartment of Functional Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Netherlands
- J S Stilma, Department of Ophthalmology, University Medical Centre/E03.136, PO Box 85.500, NL-3508 GA Utrecht, NetherlandsJ.Stilma{at}oogh.azu.nl
- Accepted 8 February 2000
Abstract
AIM To study the long term changes in the concentric contraction of the visual field in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy on vigabatrin medication.
METHODS Repeated Goldmann visual field examinations were compared in 27 patients with drug resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and concentric contraction of the visual field. Two groups were studied: 16 patients who had already stopped vigabatrin medication before surgery and 11 patients who continued vigabatrin medication.
RESULTS Concentric contraction of the visual field did not change in 16 patients who stopped vigabatrin before the first examination; there was slight but significant progress in visual field loss in 11 patients who continued the use of vigabatrin.
CONCLUSION Long term follow up of concentric contraction in this selected group of patients indicates that vigabatrin associated visual field loss is not reversible and that progression is possible when vigabatrin is continued.
