Effects of antiglaucoma drugs on ocular blood flow in ocular hypertensive rabbits.

Abstract

Antiglaucoma drugs were studied systematically on the ocular blood flow in ocular hypertensive rabbits. As expected, pilocarpine, clonidine and acetazolamide were all found to increase the ocular blood flow in the retina and choroid. However, their use in the clinics was much less than the beta-blockers, such as L-timolol, levobunolol, betaxolol and metipranolol. It was surprising to find that all non-specific and beta 1-specific adrenergic blockers decreased the ocular blood flow in ocular hypertensive rabbits. If this finding holds true in human patients, the use of beta-blockers for glaucoma treatment should be reconsidered. Dopamine antagonists, such as droperidol, metoclopramide and loxapine, were found to increase the ocular blood flow. Therefore, they might be able to replace beta-blockers for glaucoma treatment.