The Effect of Topical Brimonidine on the Ocular Hemodynamics in Patients of POAG Using OCTA

• Study Design: A prospective, longitudinal, interventional, uncontrolled study
• Participants: primary open angle glaucoma patients recruited during the period of study from the fayoum university hospital ophthalmic outpatient clinic.
• Methods:

Primary open angle glaucoma patients that are Brimonidine naiive and at the same time either medication naiive or have been on a fixed antiglaucoma medication for at least a month prior will be commenced on Brimonidine 0.2% bid with prior baseline imaging by OCT angiography (Optovue) of macula 6*6 mm and ONH 4.5*4.5 mm. After commencing Brimonidine patients will be followed up by OCT angiography at three visits assigned for 1,2,3 months after commencing Brimonidine. Every time the patient is imaged by OCT, imaging is done twice, once in a seated position at presentation and another- also in a seated position-, but after a protocol of right recumbency for 30 minutes in order to produce a postural position change as a vascular stress test to assess autoregulatory capacity of ocular and systemic circulation.

At each visit, IOP and arterial blood pressure are measured both in the seated position and after the 30-minute recumbency protocol in order to mathematically calculate the mean ocular perfusion pressure that will be correlated with OCT angiography data including vascular density, as well as indirect parameters of blood flow.

Data will be statistically analysed using the SPSS software.

Inclusion criteria

• Primary open angle glaucoma patients.
• Brimonidine naiive.
• Medication naiive or on a fixed antiglaucoma medication for at least a month prior to commencing Brimonidine.

Exclusion criteria

• Glaucomas other than primary open angle glaucoma.
• Other comorbid diseses both ocular and systemic that might confound the density and flow measurements ( hypertension, diabetes, vasculitis, MacTel, Uveitis)
• Comorbid diseases that constitute relative or absolute contraindication to Brimonidine ( pregnancy, lactation, bronchial asthma, cardiovascular diseases)
• Prior use of Brimonidine.
• A change in the glaucoma medication regimen within Less than one month at time of presentation.
• Allergy to Brimonidine or related compounds.