This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Luksch, A Articles by Schmetterer, L Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Luksch, A Articles by Schmetterer, L

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

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
² Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
³ Department of Angiology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
⁴ Institute of Medical Physics, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Dr G Rainer
Department of Ophthalmology, Währinger Gürtel 18–20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria; georg.rainer{at}akh-wien.ac.at

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.

Abbreviations: CHBF, choroidal blood flow; DSPS, Doppler shift power spectrum; ET-1, endothelin-1; FPA, fundus pulsation amplitude; IOP, intraocular pressure; LDF, laser Doppler flowmetry; NTG, normal tension glaucoma; ONHBF, optic nerve head blood flow; RBCs, red blood cells

Keywords: calcium channel blockers; normal tension glaucoma; ocular blood flow; optic nerve head blood flow; colour contrast sensitivity

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Michelson, S. Warntges, S. Leidig, J. Lotsch, and G. Geisslinger Nimodipine plasma concentration and retinal blood flow in healthy subjects. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., August 1, 2006; 47(8): 3479 - 3486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]