Calcium channel blockers do not alter ocular blood flow in normal tension glaucoma patients

M. Neudorfer*, Y. Almog, A. Kessler, M. Lazar, O. Geyer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of oral nifedipine on ocular blood flow in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. Methods: In this prospective study we examined the effects of three weeks treatment with 30 mg/day oral nifedipine in 11 NTG patients, by using color Doppler ultrasound imaging (CDI) to measure hemodynamic parameters in the central retinal (CRA), short poster or ciliary (SPCA) and ophthalmic (OA) arteries. Intraocular (IOP) and blood pressures were also evaluated. Results: Nifedipine failed to alter IOP nor did it change peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV) and the resistance index (RI) in each of the three ocular vessels studied (P>0.05). However, systolic and diastolic systemic arterial blood pressure measurements varied significantly after nifedipine treatment compared with baseline (p<0.05). Conclusion: Oral nifedipine does not alter vascular resistance and thus does not improve ocular blood flow by this way. However, due to its systemic hypertensive effect, and a consequent reduction in ocular arterial blood pressure and ocular perfusion pressure, nifedipine lowers the blood flow supply to the optic nerve head. Therefore there is no potentially beneficial ocular hemodynamic effect from the systemic calcium channel blocker nifedipine in NTG patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)S271
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Volume37
Issue number3
StatePublished - 15 Feb 1996

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