Evaluation of the effect of bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination on ocular blood flow in patients with ocular hypertension using colour Doppler imaging. Preliminary study.

Author(s): Garcia-Perez JL, Puerto-Hernandez B, Rebolleda Fernandez G, Munoz-Negrete FJ, Gonzalez-Gordaliza C

Affiliation(s): Licenciado en Medicina, Hospital Ramon y Cajal, Madrid, Espana.

Publication date & source: 2010-04, Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol., 85(4):131-137.

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of topical bimatoprost (0.3 mg/ml)/timolol maleate (5 mg/ ml) fixed combination on retrobulbar blood flow in patients with ocular hypertension (OHT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with OHT were prospectively randomised to either bimatoprost/timolol or placebo during a 12 weeks double masked treatment trial. Examinations were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment. Visual acuity, intraocular pressure (IOP), slit-lamp examination, automated static perimetry, systemic blood pressure and heart rate were all recorded. Retrobulbar blood flow measurements of the ophthalmic artery (AO) and central retinal artery (CRA) were measured by colour Doppler imaging. RESULTS: IOP was significantly decreased by bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination (p < 0.0001). Bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination therapy resulted in a significant increase in end diastolic velocity (EDV) of the CRA (p = 0.03). In patients treated with bimatoprost/timolol a statistically significant correlation between IOP and EDV was observed after 12 weeks of treatment (r = -0.511, p = 0.045). The systolic (p = 0.54) and diastolic (p = 0.67) blood pressures and heart rate (p = 0.10) did not show statistically significant differences during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Topical bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination significantly reduced IOP in patients with OHT. However, the only significant change observed in retrobulbar haemodynamics was an increase in EDV of the CRA, probably associated with a reduction in IOP.