Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the effects of topical carteolol on retinal arterial blood flow (RBF) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
Methods: Sixteen patients received carteolol topically for 90 days. Changes in RBF in the major retinal artery were evaluated using laser Doppler velocimetry at baseline and after 30, 60, and 90 days. Patients were divided into groups based on changes in RBF; retinal arterial blood column diameter, blood velocity, and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) were compared.
Results: Overall, no significant changes in RBF were observed. Twelve patients had unchanged and four decreased RBF. In patients with unchanged RBF, no significant changes in diameter, velocity, and OPP were observed. In patients with decreased RBF, the diameter did not change significantly; velocity decreased from baseline on day 90 (p = 0.041); OPP did not change significantly, but the values on days 30, 60, and 90 were lower than in patients with unchanged RBF.
Conclusions: Although carteolol preserved RBF, some patients had decreased RBF with low blood pressure, suggesting that carteolol decreases RBF in some patients with decreased ocular perfusion after the topical instillation of carteolol.