title: The effect of topical pilocarpine on pulsatile ocular blood flow.
abstract: Ocular blood flow is considered an important factor in determining the extent of visual damage occurring in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). The effect of topical pilocarpine, a parasympathomimetic vasodilator, on the pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) in POAG subjects was studied. A pneumotonometer linked to the Langham Ocular Blood Flow System recorded the intraocular pressure (IOP) pulse from which POBF was calculated. Measurements were taken from 18 POAG subjects treated with both G pilocarpine and G timolol, 2 weeks after withdrawing G pilocarpine and again 1 week after reinstituting full treatment. Recordings from 20 POAG patients treated with only G timolol were taken as control values. There was no significant difference in the IOP or POBF between the controls and POAG patients on dual therapy. Furthermore when G pilocarpine was temporarily withdrawn there was no significant change in POBF despite a significant rise in IOP. The results imply that aqueous pilocarpine has no direct effect on the pulsatile component of ocular blood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Claridge
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow / Q000187:drug effects*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010862:Pilocarpine; D013999:Timolol