Trial assesses levodopa/carbidopa eye drops for ocular disorders

Short-term use of levodopa/carbidopa eye drops does not produce clinically significant changes in retinal structure or function, despite some statistically significant findings in low-dose treated eyes, according to a study.

The Phase 1 clinical trial evaluated the potential of levodopa/carbidopa eye drops in addressing ocular disorders linked to dopamine dysregulation, particularly myopia.

In the study, 29 healthy males were randomly assigned to receive either a low dose (1.4/0.34 µmoles/day) or a high dose (2.7/0.68 µmoles/day) of the eye drops in 1 eye for 28 days. A placebo was administered to the other eye. Measurements were taken at baseline, after the treatment period, and 4 months post-treatment.

The low-dose group experienced a statistically significant increase in multifocal electroretinogram amplitude in specific regions and localized thinning of the retina, though these changes were not deemed clinically significant. No notable effects were observed in the high-dose group.

Reference

Sabeti F, Thomson K, Maddess T, et al. Retinal Function in Young Adults Following Topical Application of Levodopa to the Eye. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2024;13(10):12. doi: 10.1167/tvst.13.10.12. PMID: 39374001.