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

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.