Therapeutic Potential of Calcium Channel Blockers in Eye Diseases

Abstract

Calcium channel blockers, which alter the intracellular calcium concentration by modifying calcium flux across cell membranes and affect various intracellular signaling processes, have been long and widely used to treat essential hypertension and certain types of cardiac diseases such as angina pectoris. Among five subtypes of calcium channels, only specific agents for L-type calcium channels have been used as therapeutics. There are potentially multiple biological bases for the protective effect of calcium channel blockers on eye structures. The objective of this review is to evaluate the evidence and discuss the rationale behind the recent suggestions that calcium channel blockers may be useful in the prevention and the treatment of different eye diseases.

Keywords: Calcium Channel Blockers, Neuroprotective Effect, Antioxidative Action, Eye Diseases