The effect of Nifedipine (Nipine(R)) in the Visual Field of the Low Tension Glaucoma Patient

ABSTRACT

Nifedipine is the Ca++ channel blocker, of which action mechanism is blocking the calcium influx through the smooth muscle of vessels. It is known that Nipine(R) improve the visual field by increasing blood supply to the optic nerve with dilatation of vessels in low tension glaucoma patient whose visual field loss is thought to be caused by the ischemic change of optic nerve. We have clinically evaluated the sensitivities of visual fields of 7 cases (11 eyes) of low tcnsion glaucoma, who were medicated with Nipinetension glaucoma patient whose visual field loss is thought to be caused by the ischemic change of optic nerve. We have clinically evaluated the sensitivities of visual fields of 7 cases (11 eyes) of low tcnsion glaucoma, who were medicated with Nipine(R), 1Omg Tid per os for more than 2 weeks. The visual fields were tested at least 3 times or more with Humphrey automatic perimetry (Allergan, Statpac) and were divided into 10 sectors according to the nerve fiber bundles. In each sector, we analyzed the change of light sensitivity and global index, then compared by Student Pared t-Test. After medication of Nipine(R), improvements of mean light sensitivity in total sectors were found in 7 eyes among the 11 eyes and also superonasal portion of their visual field was more recovered than the other portions and they showed the improvement of the mean deviation but it was not significant.