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Abstract #18458 Published in IGR 3-3
Timolol increased retrobulbar flow velocities in untreated glaucoma eyes but not in ocular hypertension
Bergstrand IC; Heijl A; Wollmer P; Hansen F; Harris AActa Ophthalmologica Scandinavica 2001; 79: 455-461
PURPOSE: To investigate retrobulbar blood flow velocities and the effects of topical timolol treatment in eyes with newly detected, previously untreated open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). METHODS: Fifteen eyes with OAG and 12 with OH, in the same number of patients, all untreated and newly detected, were examined with color Doppler imaging of retrobulbar vessels before and one month after topical timolol treatment (0.5% Timoptic® BID). RESULTS: Baseline central retinal artery end diastolic velocity was lower (48%, p = 0.0002) and resistive index higher (7.6%, p = 0.018) in the OAG group than in the OH group. In the OAG group, mean end diastolic velocity increased by 41% (p = 0.006), while resistive index decreased by 5.8% (p = 0.02) on treatment, while no significant changes were seen in the OH group. Blood flow velocities in the ophthalmic artery did not change with treatment. Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) and IOP reduction did not differ between the OAG and OH groups. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral resistance to blood flow was found to be increased in untreated glaucoma eyes compared to a similar group of eyes with OH. Timolol treatment diminished resistance significantly in the OAG group, but not in the OH group. Thus, the two groups responded differently to timolol treatment. The reaction to IOP lowering treatment could indicate defective autoregulation in the OAG group.
Dr I.C. Bergstrand, Department of Ophthalmology, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
Classification:
6.8.2 Posterior segment (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods > 6.8 Photography)
