Acetazolamide influences ocular pulse amplitude.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of systemic acetazolamide on ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and on intraocular pressure (IOP).

METHODS

We determined OPA, IOP, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate (HR) in 17 patients suffering from hypertensive primary open-angle glaucoma (htPOAG) and 22 healthy controls. Measurements were taken before and 2 h after oral intake of 500 mg of acetazolamide.

RESULTS

Mean OPA decreased 20.24% (SEM 2.95%) from 2.76 mmHg (SEM 0.16 mmHg) to 2.14 mmHg (SEM 0.13 mmHg) 2 h after oral administration of 500-mg acetazolamide. IOP dropped by 2.98 mmHg (SEM 0.28 mmHg), corresponding to a 17.19% (SEM 1.56%) reduction. The decrease in IOP correlated with the decrease of OPA (r(2) = 0.4, P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Ocular pulse amplitude measurements are influenced by oral administration of acetazolamide. There was a decrease in the pulsatile component of choroidal blood flow and in IOP in both htPOAG and healthy controls. This needs to be taken into account for measurement of OPA with dynamic contour tonometry.