Evaluation of the effect of prostaglandin analogues and a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor/β-blocker combination on the ocular blood flow in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of latanoprost and fixed combination of dorzolamide/timolol on ocular hemodynamics in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study examined 34 patients (56 eyes) aged 51 to 69 years (average - 62.4±9.7 years) diagnosed with POAG in the initial (31 eyes) or advanced stage (25 eyes). Patients of the first group (20 patients, 36 eyes) were receiving latanoprost (Glauprost, Rompharm Company, Romania). The second group (14 patients, 20 eyes) was assigned to receive a fixed combination of dorzolamide/timolol (Dorzopt plus, Rompharm Company, Romania). Patient examination before and at 6 and 12 months included tonometry (ICare PRO), perimetry (Heidelberg Edge Perimeter), HRT and OCT of the optic nerve (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph 3 and Spectralis OCT2), as well as measurement of the density of surface (SVL) and deep (DVL) vascular plexus, and the Bruch's membrane opening minimum rim width (BMO-MRW). Additionally, we evaluated microcirculation in the choroid (MC) according to our original technique that uses Spectralis OCT2, and calculated rheographic index (RI) and stroke volume using transpalpebral rheoophthalmography. RESULTS: The decrease in IOP in the Latanoprost group was on average 27% and in the control group receiving timolol and dorzolamide - on average 22% and remained stable until the end of the study. The value of the area and volume of the disc rim band, BMO-MRW did not exhibit statistically significant changes in both groups by the 12th month of observation. A tendency to increase the RI from 51.5±24.5 to 62.2±19 (p=0.084) and the median of the index of microcirculation of the choroid (MC) from 16476 up to 23767 (p=0.062) in 1st group was observed. CONCLUSION: The study confirms the feasibility of using latanoprost and a fixed combination of dorzolamide and timolol in ocular hypotensive therapy of glaucoma thanks to their pronounced hypotensive effect. Patients were noted to have a tendency for improvement of ocular hemodynamics when using latanoprost.