Red blood cell (RBC) surface acetylcholinesterase showing a hemorheological pattern during glaucoma treatment.

Background: Glaucoma is currently attributed to two different possible pathogenetic mechanisms: mechanical (the ocular damage is induced by physical injury), and vascular (the ocular damage is sustained by ischemia of the optic nerve head).

Aim: We considered the possibility that several anti-glaucoma drugs (beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and prostaglandins) could have an influence on optic nerve head hemorheology and oxygen supply.

Materials And Method: We studied 4 groups of 10 subjects each: a control group, and 3 primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) groups, treated with topical beta-blockers, (10 patients), carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI), and prostaglandin analogs (PG), respectively.