OCULAR PULSE AMPLITUDE AND DORZOLAMIDE

Ocular perfusion is increasingly being discussed in the pathogenesis o f glaucoma. The present study was designed to investigate ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with e levated intraocular pressure (HTG) and nonglaucomatous controls (CTL) following topical application of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor dorz olamide. Methods: OPA (Ocular Blood Flow System, OBF labs UK) intraocu lar pressure (IOP), heart rate (HR), and systolic (BPsyst) and diastol ic (BPdiast) bronchial artery pressures were measured before and 2 day s after initiating treatment in 33 cataract patients with (n = 14) and without (n = 19) POAG. Results: Following application of dorzolamide, IOP (mmHg) in drug-treated HTG and CTL eyes was highly significantly reduced (p<0.001) and in vehicle-treated HTG and CTL eyes significantl y reduced (p<0.03) compared to respective baseline measurements. OPA ( mmHg) in drug-treated HTG and CTL eyes was significantly increased (p< 0.05) and in vehicle-treated eyes in affected compared to respective b aseline measurements. Systemic perfusion parameters were also unchange d.Conclusion: Dorzolamide increased OPA in HTG and CTL eyes. An increa se in OPA may improve the prognosis of HTG.