Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 22, 2025
10:10
Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
Published on: February 15, 2022
1.3K
Association of Systemic Calcium Channel Blocker Use with Visual Field Progression in a Large Real-World Cohort from
Giovanni Montesano1, Alessandro Rabiolo2, David F Garway-Heath3
1NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom; Department of Optometry and Visual Sciences, City St. George's, University of London, London, United Kingdom.
Ophthalmology. Glaucoma
|March 15, 2025
Summary
Calcium channel blocker (CCB) use was linked to slower visual field (VF) progression in glaucoma patients. While statistically significant, the observed difference in VF deterioration was small and may not be clinically meaningful.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide.
- Visual field (VF) progression is a key indicator of glaucoma severity and treatment efficacy.
- Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are commonly prescribed medications with potential vascular effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between systemic calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and the rate of visual field (VF) progression in glaucoma patients.
- To determine if CCB use influences the speed at which glaucoma-induced vision loss occurs.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective longitudinal case-control study involving 14,475 eyes from 5 UK glaucoma clinics.
- Propensity score matching (PSM) and multivariable analyses (MVAs) were employed to control for confounding factors.
- Linear mixed-effect models (LMMs) assessed the rate of VF mean deviation (MD) progression in CCB users versus controls.
Main Results:
- CCB users exhibited a statistically significant slower rate of VF MD progression (-0.31 dB/year) compared to matched controls (-0.35 dB/year) (P=0.016).
- This association remained significant after multivariable adjustment.
- Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the findings.
Conclusions:
- Systemic calcium channel blocker (CCB) use is associated with a statistically significant slower rate of visual field deterioration in glaucoma.
- The observed difference in progression rate was small and its clinical significance is uncertain, potentially limited by exposure duration data.
- Further research may be needed to clarify the clinical impact of CCBs on glaucoma progression.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
378
In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
378
01:25Glaucoma: Overview
488
Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
488
01:18Antihypertensive Drugs: Action of Calcium Channel Blockers
427
Calcium ions are essential to contract smooth muscle cells in blood vessels. They enter these cells through voltage-dependent calcium channels, specifically L-type calcium channels in the cell membrane. These L-type calcium channels are integral to the excitation-contraction coupling process in smooth muscle. When a stimulus is received by smooth muscle cells, their membrane depolarizes. This alteration in membrane potential instigates the opening of L-type calcium channels. As a result,...
427
01:28Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
420
Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
420
01:22Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers
1.2K
Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...
1.2K
01:20Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class IV Agents as Calcium Channel Blockers
746
Class IV antiarrhythmic drugs, such as verapamil and diltiazem, block calcium channels. They primarily affect the heart, slowing the conduction in calcium-dependent tissues like the SA and AV nodes. These drugs manage reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and reduce ventricular rate in atrial flutter/fibrillation.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, inhibits calcium movement across myocardial cell membranes and vascular smooth muscle. This results in the dilation of coronary and...
746