ABSTRACT. Purpose: Dorzolamide (Trusopt

Aim: To investigate the effects of oral nimodipine on ocular haemodynamic parameters and colour contrast sensitivity in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Design: The study was performed in a randomised, placebo controlled, double masked, crossover design. Participants: Nimodipine (60 mg) or placebo was administered to 14 consecutive NTG patients. Methods: The effects or oral nimodipine or placebo on ocular and systemic haemodynamic parameters and colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan axis were studied two hours after administration. Optic nerve head blood flow (ONHBF) and choroidal blood flow (CHBF) were assessed with laser Doppler flowmetry. Ocular fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) was measured with laser interferometry. Colour contrast sensitivity (CCS) was determined along the tritan colour axis. Main outcome measures: ONHBF, CHBF, FPA, intraocular pressure and CCS were assessed in patients with NTG. Results: Mean ocular FPA increased by 14% (SD 14%) (p = 0.0008), ONHBF by 18% (SD 16%) (p = 0.0031), and CHBF by 12% (SD 14%) (p,0.001) after administration of nimodipine. Nimodipine also decreased the threshold of colour contrast sensitivity along the tritan colour axis (214% (SD 12%); p = 0.048). However, individual changes in FPA, ONHBF, or CHBF were not correlated with changes in threshold of CCS along the tritan colour axis. Conclusions:The results indicate that nimodipine increases ONH and choroidal blood flow in NTG patients and improves CCS. The latter effect does not, however, seem to be a direct consequence of the blood flow improvement.

PURPOSE: To assess corneal sensitivity in patients 10 or more years after epikeratoplasty for myopia, aphakia, hyperopia, and keratoconus. METHODS: A total of 45 eyes of 33 patients (age range at examination 33 to 55 yr) were included in the study. Corneal sensitivity thresholds using an electromagnetic aesthesiometer (Draeger) were measured at various locations on the lenticule and the recipient cornea. Measurements were evaluated regarding the corrective purpose, surgical technique, age, and gender of the patients and the area of measurements. RESULTS: The mean corneal sensitivity threshold in the center of the epikeratoplasty lenticule was significantly lower than on the peripheral recipient cornea (320.0 ± 365.1 ? IO"6 N versus 0.1 ± 0.5 ? 10"5 N). Corneal sensitivity at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions was significantly higher compared to the values at the 6 and 12 o'clock positions on the lenticule. No correlations of these values with age, gender, type, and primary indications for the surgery were observed. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a relative hypesthesia of the epikeratoplasty lenticule as compared to the peripheral host cornea, even 10 years after surgery. In our patients no clinically significant changes were observed that could be attributed to the reduced sensitivity over this follow-up period. [J Refract Surg 2002;18:731-736]

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