COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASOUND MEASUREMENT OF BETA-BLOCKER RESPONSE IN NORMAL-TENSION GLAUCOMA

Perfusion of the optic nerve head is a factor in the pathogenesis of g laucoma particularly in 'normal tension glaucoma' by whatever name. Al ong with intraocular pressure, vascular parameters in the watershed zo ne of the short posterior ciliary arteries probably determine stabilit y or loss of nerve function as reflected in the visual field. Color Do ppler ultrasound was used to measure the response of ten patients with normal tension glaucoma to topical timolol and betaxolol compared wit h baseline. Betaxolol lowered the index of vascular resistivity in the short posterior ciliary arteries in these patients (p<o.o5). Other co mparisons were not statistically significant.