ABSTRACT

To evaluate the effects of betaxolol and carteolol on retrobulbar blood flow in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

28 patients with POAG were included in this study. Before antiglaucomatous therapy the blood flow rates were evaluated by coloured Doppler ultrasonography (RDU) technique in ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and temporal short posterior cilliary arteries (TPCA) and rezistivity indices (RI) were measured. The cases were randomly divided into two groups; betaxolol 0.5 % was applied twice daily to the patients in the first group and carteolol 2 % twice daily to the other group. After 4 month topical therapy the measurements by RDU were repeated.

The alterations in the blood flow rates of OA and CRA were not statistically significant in betaxolol group (p > 0.05). There was a statistically significant decrease in RI of TPCA ( p < 0.05). There was no alteration in the blood flow rates of OA and CRA , and the decrease in RI of TPCA was statistically significant in carteolol group (p < 0.05).

Topical betaxolol and carteolol therapy in POAG cases acts favourably on ocular blood flow, specially in short posterior cilliary arteries.

Keywords: Primary open angle Glaucoma, Ocular blood flow, Betaxolol, Carteolol