Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of bimatoprost 0.03% on ocular
hemodynamics in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
Methods: Twenty-two (22) patients with NTG were consecutively recruited. After basic eye
examination and diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement, color Doppler imaging was
used to measure the peak systolic and end diastolic velocities and resistive index of the central
retinal, lateral posterior ciliary, and medial posterior ciliary arteries. Patients received bimatoprost
0.03% for 4 weeks, and these measurements were then repeated. The worse eye of
each NTG patient was used in the statistical analysis.
Results: Bimatoprost 0.03% significantly reduced mean IOP from 15.1 ± 3.8 mmHg at baseline
to 12.0 ± 2.9 mmHg after treatment in our sample of NTG patients (P < 0.001). No significant
changes in blood velocities or resistance indices were observed in the retrobulbar
vessels after the 4-week treatment.
Conclusions: Topical bimatoprost 0.03% significantly reduced IOP in our NTG patients
without causing significant hemodynamic changes in the retrobulbar vessels.
