Abstract
Ocular blood flow is considered an important factor in determining the extent of visual damage occurring in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The effect of topical pilocarpine, a parasympathomimetic vasodilator, on the pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) in POAG subjects was studied. A pneumotonometer linked to the Langham Ocular Blood Flow System recorded the intraocular pressure (IOP) pulse from which POBF was calculated. Measurements were taken from 18 POAG subjects treated with both G pilocarpine and G timolol, 2 weeks after withdrawing G pilocarpine and again 1 week after reinstituting full treatment. Recordings from 20 POAG patients treated with only G timolol were taken as control values. There was no significant difference in the IOP or POBF between the controls and POAG patients on dual therapy. Furthermore when G pilocarpine was temporarily withdrawn there was no significant change in POBF despite a significant rise in IOP. The results imply that aqueous pilocarpine has no direct effect on the pulsatile component of ocular blood.
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Claridge, K. The effect of topical pilocarpine on pulsatile ocular blood flow. Eye 7, 507–510 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1993.110
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.1993.110