Baseline Retrobulbar Blood Flow is Predictive of Macular Thickness in Patients with Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: : To examine if baseline retrobulbar blood flow as measured by color Doppler imaging (CDI) is predictive of macular thickness in patients with open angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods: : CDI and optical coherence tomography (OCT) parameters at baseline were analyzed as predictors of macular thickness after 2 years of follow up using Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results: : In 100 patients with OAG, baseline retrobulbar blood flow parameters were a positively correlated with 2-year macular thickness measurements as assessed with OCT. Ophthalmic artery (OA) end diastolic velocity (EDV) at baseline was positively correlated with 2-year inner superior macular thickness (r=0.20, p=0.0493). Central retinal artery (CRA) peak systolic velocity (PSV) at baseline was positively correlated with 2-year outer superior macular thickness (r=0.25, p=0.0106), inner superior macular thickness (r=0.27, p=0.0062), superior outer nasal macular thickness (r=0.33, p=0.0008), inner nasal macular thickness (r=0.23, p=0.0204), and macular volume (r=0.24, p=0.0149). CRA EDV at baseline was positively correlated with 2-year outer superior macular thickness (r=0.28, p=0.0039) and superior outer nasal macular thickness (r=0.30, p=0.0024). Nasal posterior ciliary artery (NPCA) EDV at baseline was positively correlated with 2-year outer superior macular thickness (r=0.21, p=0.034), outer inferior macular thickness (r=0.21, p=0.0368), and outer nasal macular thickness (r=0.21, p=0.0325).

Conclusions: : In this cohort of patients with OAG, baseline retrobulbar blood flow, as measured by CDI, is a predictor of 2-year macular thickness measurements. A positive correlation was found between baseline retrobulbar blood flow and 2-year macular thickness parameters which indicates that high retrobulbar blood flow at baseline predicts larger macular thickness after 2 years.

Keywords: macula/fovea • blood supply • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment