rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2005;89:21-25 doi:10.1136/bjo.2003.037671
  • Clinical science
    • Scientific reports

Effect of nimodipine on ocular blood flow and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with normal tension glaucoma

  1. A Luksch1,2,
  2. G Rainer1,
  3. D Koyuncu1,
  4. P Ehrlich2,
  5. T Maca3,
  6. M E Gschwandtner3,
  7. C Vass1,
  8. L Schmetterer2,4
  1. 1Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  2. 2Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  3. 3Department of Angiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  4. 4Institute of Medical Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
  1. Correspondence to: Dr G Rainer Department of Ophthalmology, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; georg.rainerakh-wien.ac.at
  • Accepted 5 April 2004

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the effects of oral nimodipine on ocular haemodynamic parameters and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).

Design: The study was performed in a randomised, placebo controlled, double masked, crossover design.

Participants: Nimodipine (60 mg) or placebo was administered to 14 consecutive NTG patients.

Methods: The effects or oral nimodipine or placebo on ocular and systemic haemodynamic parameters and colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan axis were studied two hours after administration. Optic nerve head blood flow (ONHBF) and choroidal blood flow (CHBF) were assessed with laser Doppler flowmetry. Ocular fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) was measured with laser interferometry. Colour contrast sensitivity (CCS) was determined along the tritan colour axis.

Main outcome measures: ONHBF, CHBF, FPA, intraocular pressure and CCS were assessed in patients with NTG.

Results: Mean ocular FPA increased by 14% (SD 14%) (p = 0.0008), ONHBF by 18% (SD 16%) (p = 0.0031), and CHBF by 12% (SD 14%) (p<0.001) after administration of nimodipine. Nimodipine also decreased the threshold of colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan colour axis (−14% (SD 12%); p = 0.048). However, individual changes in FPA, ONHBF, or CHBF were not correlated with changes in threshold of CCS along the tritan colour axis.

Conclusions: The results indicate that nimodipine increases ONH and choroidal blood flow in NTG patients and improves CCS. The latter effect does not, however, seem to be a direct consequence of the blood flow improvement.

Footnotes

  • Financial support by the “Medizinisch-Wissenschaftlicher Fonds des Bürgermeisters der Stadt Wien”, Austria is gratefully acknowledged.

  • Meeting presentation: at International Glaucoma Symposium in Barcelona 2003.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Register for free content

The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.