Relation of Spontaneous Retinal Venous Pulsation and Disc Hemorrhage in Open Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To investigate the relationship of disc hemorrhage (DH) and spontaneous venous pulsation (SVP) in open angle glaucoma (OAG).

 

Methods

 

Fifty-six eyes of 56 patients with DH on the day of movie recording, and 118 eyes of 118 patients in whose eyes DH has not been observed for at least 4 years were included. The SVP was assessed using a movie tool provided by confocal scanning laser ophthalmoloscope (Spectralis HRA, Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). The frequency of SVP was compared between patients with and without DH. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the factors associated with the occurrence of DH.

 

Results

 

The frequency of SVP in overall patients with OAG was 60.3%, and the presence of SVP was not significantly associated with DH by logistic analysis (OR, 0.698; P = 0.200). Greater visual field mean deviation (OR, 1.100; P =0.024), lower untreated intraocular pressure (OR, 0.888; P = 0.013), and the tendency to cold hands (OR, 2.796; P = 0.022) showed association with DH.

 

Conclusions

 

In consecutive patients with OAG, presence/absence of SVP was not associated with DH. This finding suggests that the occurrence of DH may be independent of increase in retrolaminar venous resistance.

 

 

(Left) Disc photograph of a patient with disc hemorrhage in inferotemporal area of the optic nerve (white arrow). (Middle) Video frame of the minimum diameter of central retinal vein (CRV) identified using a confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope. (Right) Video frame maximum diameter of CRV. Note the difference of the diameter of the CRV indicated with yellow arrow.

 

Keywords: 628 optic flow • 629 optic nerve • 436 blood supply