Calcium channel blockers: their use in normal tension glaucoma

Abstract

The treatment of normal tension glaucoma can be difficult. Some normal tension glaucoma patients show progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy despite an intraocular pressure in the normal range, and sometimes even with an intraocular pressure in the low teens. The question therefore arises as to whether there are other therapeutic options besides lowering the intraocular pressure. One treatment modality discussed in the literature is calcium channel blockers. We suspect that calcium channel blockers are particularly useful in glaucoma patients having a primary vascular dysregulation.

Keywords::

• autoregulation
• calcium channel blockers
• glaucomatous optic neuropathy
• ocular blood flow
• primary vascular dysregulation

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.