Abstract
Purpose::
Evaluate the intrasession reproducibility of CLBF measurements in the major temporal retinal arteries, establish a preliminary normative database and compare to glaucoma patients.
Methods::
The intrasession reproducibility of retinal blood measurement obtained using the Canon Laser Blood Flowmeter model CLBF 100 was assessed. The coefficients of variation (CV) for three repeated three high quality (as defined by a Q index between 3 and 5 relative units, considering both incident path beans) measurements of retinal vessel diameter (D [µm]), blood velocity (Vel [mm/sec]), and blood flow (F µl/min])were obtained from the major infero- temporal retinal artery in 101 patients (54 normals and 47 patients with open angle glaucoma).
Results::
Mean arterial diameter in normals and glaucoma patients was 122.7±15.8 and 118.5±15.5µm respectively (p=0.19). Mean arterial velocity in normals and glaucoma patients was 34.8±7.2 and 29.9±5.6 mm/sec respectively (p=0.0003). Mean arterial flow in normals and glaucoma patients was 12.6±4.1 and 10.2±1.9 µl/min respectively. (p=0.004). Mean intrasession coefficient of variation for diameter, velocity and flow in normals were 1.9±1.4%, 10.3±6.7%, 10.8±6.5%, whereas the corresponding CoVs for glaucoma patients were 2.3±1.4%, 10.4±5.5%, 12.1±5.1% respectively.
Conclusions::
The intrasession reproducibility of CBLF measurements is very good, particularly for diameter. Mean retinal arterial blood flow is significantly reduced in glaucoma patients compared to normals.
Keywords: optic flow • blood supply • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)