Abstract
Purpose:
The purpose of the present study was to determine the central retinal venous pressure (CRVP) in patients with retinal vascular occlusions using a contact lens ophthalmodynamometer calibrated in mmHg.
Methods:
22 patients (13 male/ 9 female; age 64.6+10.5 years) with retinal vascular occlusion on one eye (6x central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), 3x branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), 9x central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), 4x branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO)) were included in a prospective clinical study. CRVP was measured using a Goldmann contact lens associated ophthalmodynamometric device (CLD; Meditron GmbH, Voelklingen, Germany) in the occlusion (10) and the healthy fellow eye (22). In 12 patients CRVP in the occlusion eye was not measured because central retinal venous pulsation could not be visualized. As statistical procedures the Pearson correlation and the student’s t-test for independent samples were applied.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in CRVP (P=0.466), IOP (P=0.229) and MOPP (mean ocular perfusion pressure, P=0.378) between the occlusion and the healthy fellow eye. A statistically high correlation in CRVP could be shown between both eyes (r=0.948, P=0.0001). CRVP in central retinal vascular occlusions (CRAO and CRVO) was higher than in branch retinal vascular occlusions (BRAO and BRVO): 44.4±13.5 mmHg and 29.9±12.4mmHg respectively (P=0.026).
Conclusions:
CRVP in occlusion and healthy fellow eyes showed no significant difference, but a high correlation. If a high CRVP represents a risk factor for central retinal vascular occlusions, the fellow eye would be at risk too. A high venous outflow resistance seems to be present in both eyes and might therefore be a valuable clinical predictor. Interestingly CRVP was elevated in arterial and venous occlusions. The reason might be similar atherosclerotic changes in the lamina cribrosa.
Keywords: 749 vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease •
436 blood supply •
568 intraocular pressure