J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1998 Jul;39(7):1516-1522.

The Effect of Oral Calcium Channel Blockers on the Ocular Blood Flow

• Koo HJ
• Kee C

Abstract

Pulsatile ocular blood flow(POBF) System can measure the ocular blood flow easily and reliably. We attempted to investigate if oral calcium-channel blockers such as nifedipine and verapamil used for treatment of normal tension glaucoma increase the ocular blood flow in normal eyes by using above instrument. Twelve normal volunteers who have no ocular and systemic disorder history were involved in this study, and their ocular blood flow, intraocular pressure, systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rate were measured. We performed the same study for 14 normal volunteers using verapamil. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were decreased significantly after administration of calcium-channel blockers(P<0.05), but ocular blood flow did not change with administration of calcium-channel blockers(P>0.05). The intraocular pressure did not vary after administration of verapamil, but elevated in mean by 1.1mmHg after administration of nifedipine(P<0.05). Our study showed oral calcium-channel blockers, nifedipine and verapamil, did not increase the ocular blood flow in normal subjects with use of POBF.

Keyword

Pulsatile ocular blood flow; Calcium-channel blocker

MeSH Terms

Blood Pressure
Calcium Channel Blockers*
Calcium Channels*
Calcium*
Healthy Volunteers
Heart Rate
Intraocular Pressure
Low Tension Glaucoma
Nifedipine
Verapamil
Calcium
Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium Channels
Nifedipine
Verapamil