[Ocular pulse amplitude, intraocular pressure and beta blocker/carbonic anhydrase inhibition in combined therapy of primary open-angle glaucoma].

BACKGROUND

Beyond intraocular pressure (IOP, German abbreviation: IOD) ocular perfusion is increasingly discussed in the pathogenesis of the glaucomas. The present study was designed to investigate for ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in primary open angle glaucoma patients with elevated intraocular pressure (POAG, German abbreviation: POWG) following application of timolol, a beta-blocker and dorzolamide a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor.

METHODS

OPA (Ocular Blood Flow System, OBF Labs U.K.) IOP, heart rate, systolic and diastolic brachial artery pressures were measured before and 4 weeks following application of timolol and additional 4 weeks following application of a timolol/dorzolamide combination in 14 POAG patients.

RESULTS

Following administration of timolol, IOP was highly significantly reduced in drug treated POAG eyes; this effect was additively enhanced by dorzolamide. Timolol did not affect OPA, whereas dorzolamide significantly increased OPA in drug treated POAG eyes. Systemic perfusion parameters were unchanged.

CONCLUSION

Timolol and dorzolamide drastically reduced IOP, in addition dorzolamide increased OPA in POAG, an ocular microcirculatory effect which may further help to improve prognosis of POAG.