Retinal capillary blood flow, blood pressure, and ocular perfusion pressure in healthy and glaucomatous females

Abstract

Purpose : To assess the relationship between retinal capillary blood flow, blood pressure (BP) and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) in females with and without open angle glaucoma (OAG).

Methods : 24 OAG female patients and 16 healthy females participating in the Optic Nerve Formula study at the Glick Eye Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine (Indianapolis, USA), were assessed for baseline retinal capillary blood flow by confocal scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (Heidelberg Retinal Flowmetry), for BP (systolic BP, SBP; diastolic BP, DBP) by an automated ambulatory blood pressure monitor, and for intraocular pressure (IOP) by Goldmann applanation tonometry. OPP was calculated from BP and IOP. Pearson correlations were performed.

Results : In healthy females, systolic OPP was positively correlated with superior retinal capillary blood flow (r=0.41), while this correlation was negative in OAG females (r=-0.37), leading to a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.020). In healthy females, SBP and mean arterial pressure were positively correlated with superior retinal capillary blood flow (r=0.41 and r=0.29); these correlations were negative in OAG females (r=-0.41 and r=-0.44), leading to a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p=0.014 and p=0.031).

Conclusions : The relationship between retinal capillary blood flow, BP and OPP may be influenced by the presence of glaucoma in females.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.