Lack of effect of calcium channel blockers on open-angle glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of calcium channel blockers (CCB) on the clinical course of glaucoma.


METHODS
Open-angle glaucoma patients receiving oral CCB for nonophthalmic diseases were sequentially selected from the private practice of the Glaucoma Service of Wills Eye Hospital. The course of visual fields and optic discs and serial intraocular pressures were analyzed in subsequent follow-ups. The findings in these 83 cases were compared with a control group of patients with the same ocular diagnosis, but who were not on CCB. A subset of 43 cases of the study group was compared with an age-matched subset of the control group.


RESULTS
There was no apparent difference in the absolute intraocular pressure, stability/change of visual fields or optic discs when we compared patients using CCB with the control group. Among patients with the diagnosis of "low-tension glaucoma," we also could not demonstrate any statistically significant difference between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, neither a beneficial nor a detrimental effect of CCB on the course of the patients glaucomatous disease was apparent.
Liu
S
S
William and Anna Goldberg Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107-5599, USA.
Araujo
S V
SV
Spaeth
G L
GL
Katz
L J
LJ
Smith
M
M
D000368:Aged; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008875:Middle Aged; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014700:Verapamil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil; D004110:Diltiazem; D009543:Nifedipine