Abstracts

Purpose: The present study investigated the potential effect of vigabatrin on the visual field. Visual field examination included static and kinetic perimetry and was performed in all patients undergoing temporal lobe surgery. It was performed prior to surgery and 6 weeks respectively 5 months after surgical treatment. Results: Out of a series of 187 patients selected for temporal lobe surgery for drug resistent epilepsy 27 had a concentric visual field constriction prior to surgery. The visual field was graded according to Esterman. The defect was significantly related to the use of vigabatrin. Males were more affected than females. Sixteen of the 27 patients had stopped vigabatrin prior to the first visual field examination. The concentric contraction of 11 patients who continued the use of vigabatrin after the first visual field examamination showed a slow but significant progression of the visual field loss (paired T test, p < 0.045). Conclusion: The visual field loss associated with the use of vigabatrin is not reversible and continuation of the drug is associated with progressive visual field loss. Reference: Concentric contraction of the visual field in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and its association with the use of vigabatrin medication. Accepted for publication in Epilepsia.