EFFECT OF ORAL NIFEDIPINE ON OCULAR BLOOD-FLOW IN PATIENTS WITH LOW-TENSION GLAUCOMA

Aim - To investigate the effect of oral nifedipine on ocular blood how in patients with low tension glaucoma (LTG). Methods - In this prospe ctive study we examined the effects of 3 weeks of treatment with oral nifedipine 30 mg/day in II patients with LTG, by using colour Doppler ultrasound imaging to measure haemodynamic variables in the central re tinal (CRA), short posterior ciliary (SPCA), and ophthalmic (OA) arter ies. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood pressures were also evaluate d. Results - Nifedipine failed to alter IOP nor did it change peak sys tolic velocity, end diastolic velocity, or the resistance index in any of the three ocular vessels studied (p>0.05). However systolic and di astolic systemic arterial blood pressure measurements varied significa ntly after nifedipine treatment compared with baseline (p<0.05). Concl usion - Our study failed to demonstrate a significant effect of nifedi pine on retrobulbar circulation of patients with LTG.