Source: Epilepsia  |  Posted 9 years ago

Patients who take antiepileptic drugs have reduced blood flow in their ocular area, which may have an impact on their visual functioning.

Use of antiepileptic drugs has been shown to lead to reduced cerebral blood flow and decreased cerebral glucose metabolism. As a result, E. J. Hilton from the Neurosciences Research Institute, Aston University, England, and colleagues investigated whether ocular haemodynamics are also affected by using of these agents.

Among 14 patients taking antiepileptic drugs for the treatment of epilepsy, the investigators measured retinal capillary microvascular flow, volume and velocity in the temporal neuroretinal rim. They took these measurements using scanning laser Doppler flowmetry. Results in the epileptic patients were compared to results with 14 age- and gender-matched controls.

Those taking antiepileptic drugs had a significant reduction in retinal blood volume (13.52