The Short Term Effects of Bimatoprost on Optic Nerve Head and Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the effects of bimatoprost on the optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary retinal blood flow. METHODS: Sixteen healthy volunteers were recruited. In a randomized, double-blind design, one eye received a drop of bimatoprost and the other eye a drop of placebo. ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow parameters (flow, volume, velocity) were measured with HRF before, and at 1, 6 and 24 hours after eyedrops and blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were recorded. RESULTS: The 16 subjects comprised 13 males and 3 females with a mean age of 27.3 +/- 2.4 years. IOP decreased significantly in the bimatoprost-treated eyes at 1, 6 and 24 hours after eyedrops (p<0.05). BP and HR were unchanged after bimatoprost eyedrops. The flow was significantly higher in the temporal peripapillary retina in the bimatoprost-treated eyes 1 hour after eyedrops and the velocity was also higher 6 hours after eyedrops at the same location. At the optic disc, there was a significant increase of the volume in the bimatoprost group 1 hour after eyedrops. There was no significant decrease of HRF parameters in the bimatoprost-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that bimatoprost does not have any adverse effect on ONH or peripapillary retinal blood flow.