Carbonic anhydrase inhibitor topical application and optic nerve head blood supply in primary open-angle glaucoma patients

The effect of topical 2% dorzolamide on intraocular pressure (IOP) and ocular blood flow (OBF) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients has been investigated. IOP, blood pressure, heart rate, visual field, and blood flowmetry were recorded at baseline (timolol mono-therapy) and after each 1-month timolol/dorzolamide co-administration (both as association and as fixed-combination). The co-administration significantly reduced IOP respect to baseline, also improving the optic nerve head (ONH) hemodynamic parameters (p< 0.001 for all comparisons). When timolol/dorzolamide fixed-combination replaced their associated administration, a further increase of ONH blood flow was observed (p< 0.05). These results suggest that dorzolamide might benefit POAG prognosis by increasing ONH hemodynamics