Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To investigate retrobulbar blood flow velocities in patients with asymmetric glaucomatous visual field loss. Methods: Forty patients with primary open–angle glaucoma and asymmetric visual field loss (difference of mean deviation between the eyes >6dB) were included in this prospective study. Blood flow velocities (peak systolic velocity PSV and end–diastolic velocity EDV) and resistive indices of the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and nasal and temporal posterior ciliary arteries were measured by means of color Doppler imaging. Results: Mean deviation of eyes with more severe glaucomatous visual field loss was –17.1dB versus –5.6dB (p<0.0001). Intraocular pressure and perfusion pressure were not significant different between eyes. The PSV of the ophthalmic artery (30.5 ±8cm/s versus 32.9 ±9cm/s, p=0.014) and the EDV of the central retinal artery (2.2 ±0.4cm/s versus 2.5 ±0.5cm/s, p<0.005) were significant decreased in eyes with more severe glaucomatous field loss. The other blood flow data of the retrobulbar vessels were not significantly different. Conclusions: Patients with asymmetric glaucomatous visual field loss exhibit asymmetric blood flow velocities of the OA and CRA in primary open–angle glaucoma. The posterior ciliary arteries did not show any significant differences between the more and less affected eye.
Keywords: blood supply • intraocular pressure • imaging methods (CT, FA, ICG, MRI, OCT, RTA, SLO, ultrasound)