The Effect of Age on Venous Pulsation Pressure and Pressure in the Ophthalmic Artery

Abstract

Purpose: : To examine whether the venous pulsation pressure (VPP), the diastolic and the systolic pressure in the ophthalmic artery (diaOAP, sysOAP) measured by ocular contact lens dynamometry are dependent on age.

Methods: : In a prospective clinical trial one randomly chosen eye of 106 healthy subjects was examined (F:M=58:48). The subjects were divided in 7 groups with 12 to17 subjects: 10-19y, 20-29y, 30-39y, 40-49y, 50-59y, 60-69y, over 70y. VPP, diaOAP, sysOAP were measured by contact lens dynamometry (CLD) (Meditron GmbH, Völklingen, Germany). During the CLD measurements systemic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were taken. Additionally, axial length, corneal curvature were measured by IOL-Master, cornea thickness by ultrasound pachymetry; IOP by Goldmann Applanation Tonometry. For statistics univariate regression was performed between age and the CLD parameters. Additionally, multivariate regression analysis examined the effect of corneal curvature, corneal thickness, axial length, IOP, gender, heart rate, diastolic and systolic SBP on CLD parameters.

Results: : Over all subjects diaOAP (R²=0.319 and P=0.0001), and sysOAP (R²=0.549 and P=0.0001), diastolic SBP (R²=0.264 and P=0.0001), and systolic SBP (R²=0.280 and P=0.0001), showed a statistically significant increase with age. This effect was more pronounced in males compared to females. VPP was not dependent on age (R²=0.0001 and P=0.824). Multivariate regression analysis showed that diaOAP was dependent on age, diastolic SBP, and gender (R²=0.578); sysOAP was dependent on age, and systolic SBP (R²=0.714) and VPP was only correlated to gender (R²=0.165 and P=0.001).

Keywords: blood supply • optic nerve • intraocular pressure