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Abstract
The acute effect of cigarette smoking on retinal macular blood flow was studied in 14 healthy habitual smokers using the blue field simulation technique. This technique provides a method for quantifying the velocity of leukocytes flowing in one's own macular capillaries. Subjects adjusted the mean velocity of computer simulated leukocytes moving on a CRT screen to match that of their own entoptically perceived leukocytes before, during, and immediately after smoking a cigarette. Smoking resulted in a 12 +/- 5% (SEM) increase in macular leukocyte velocity and presumably blood flow. Possible mechanisms for this increase are discussed.