Original Paper · Travail original · Originalarbeit

Effects of Timolol and Dorzolamide on Retrobulbar Hemodynamics in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma
Fernando Galassi, Andrea Sodi, Giulia Renieri, Francesca Ucci, Benedetta Pieri, Alon Harris, Brent Siesky

Department of Oto-Neuro-Ophthalmological Surgery, Section of Ophthalmology, University of Florence, Italy

Address of Corresponding Author

Ophthalmologica 2002;216:123-128 (DOI: 10.1159/000048311)

  Key Words

• Primary open-angle glaucoma
• Ocular hemodynamics
• Dorzolamide
• Color Doppler imaging

  Abstract

The authors considered a group of patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma studying the effects of a 4-week treatment with timolol or dorzolamide on retrobulbar vessels. Ocular hemodynamics were assessed by means of color Doppler imaging of the ophthalmic artery, the temporal short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs) and the central retinal artery. For each vessel, systolic and diastolic blood flow velocities were measured, and the resistivity index (RI) was calculated. The only significant result was a reduction of temporal SPCA RI after dorzolamide treatment in comparison with baseline (p = 0.011). In the same group, dorzolamide treatment had a slight and nonsignificant increase in temporal SPCA diastolic velocity. The resistance decrease observed after dorzolamide treatment in the ciliary circulation may be due to the decrease in intraocular pressure or a possible direct vasodilating effect of the drug.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Prof. Fernando Galassi
Via di S. Marta 24
I-50139 Firenze (Italy)
Tel. +39 055 411152, Fax +39 055 4377749, E-Mail fernando.galassi@unifi.it

  Article Information

Received: Received: February 26, 2001
Accepted after revision: July 25, 2001
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 3, Number of References : 46