The Effects of Oral Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Visual Field Change in Patients with NTG.

Ha, Seung Joo; Rho, Sae Heun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Ophthalmological Society 2003;44(9):2047-2057.
Published online September 1, 2003.

The Effects of Oral Ginkgo Biloba Extract on Visual Field Change in Patients with NTG.

Seung Joo Ha, Sae Heun Rho

Department of Ophthalmology, Dong-A University, College of Medicine, Pusan, Korea. shrho@daunet.donga.ac.kr

정상안압 녹내장환자에서 Ginkgo Biloba Extract (EGb 761) 복용이 시야변화에 미치는 영향

하승주 ( Ha Seung Ju ) , 노세현 ( No Se Hyeon )

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the effect of oral Ginkgo biloba extract (EGB 761) on visual field in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) based on the vascular theory among the machanisms of glaucomatous optic nerve damage. METHODS: A retrospective automated visual field data were obtained from Ginkgo group (20 patients, 38 eyes) and control group (20 patients, 40 eyes). Both groups underwent five Humphrey C24-2 field program over at least 4 years, and had glaucomatous optic nerve damage and visual field change, whose IOP were maintained under 21mmHg during all follow-up periods. Linear regression was performed with respect to mean deviation (MD), corrected pattern standard deviation (CPSD), and mean thresholds of Glaucoma Hemifield test (GHT). Subjects were classified as progressive, improvement, stationary based on the slope and statistical significance. RESULTS: There were 6 eyes (15.8%) with improvements with regard to MD in Ginkgo group. There were 5 eyes (13.2%) with improvements in Ginkgo group and 3 eyes (7.5%) with improvements in control group with regard to CPSD. With GHT cluster analysis, there were 13 eyes (34.2%) with improvements in Ginkgo group and 5 eyes (12.5%) with improvements in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The visual field in patient with NTG was improved in GBE group through MD, CPSD, and GHT cluster mean threshold, which was relatively compatible with known NTG visual field defect.

Key Words: Ginkgo biloba extract;Normal tension glaucoma;Visual field test