THE  EFFECTS OF   APRACLONIDINE AND APRACLONIDINE COMBINED WITH B-BLOCKERS (NONSELECTIVE AND SELECTIVE) ON THE DIAMETER OF RETINAL VESSELS

A. Ozkiris, N. Tamcelik, G. Muftuoglu and S. Ozkan

Department of Ophthalmology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Turkey

To investigate the effects of apraclonidine and apraclonidine combined with b-blocker (selective and nonselective ) on the diameter of retinal vessels. 

Patient and Methods: 20 eyes of 10 patients were treated with  apraclonidine (Group 1), 20 eyes of 10 patients were treated with a combination of  apraclonidine and  betaxolol hydrocloride (Group 2) and 20 eyes 10 patients were treated with a combination of aproclonidine and timolol maleate (Group 3). The diameters of retinal vessels were measured by taking red free fundus images with Topcon IMAGInet TRCIA before and one week, one month and three months after administration of drugs in three groups.

Results: There was no significant difference in diameters of retinal vessels before and one week, one month and three months after administration of drugs .          

Conclusion: Application of apraclonidine and apraclonidine combined with b- blockers do not effect the diameters of retinal vessels and lower the intraocular pressure.