Color Doppler imaging of the ocular vessels.
BACKGROUND
Color Doppler imaging allows for simultaneous two-dimensional anatomical imaging and Doppler evaluation of blood flow velocity.


METHODS
We examined 40 normal eyes (17 males and 23 females, aged 16 to 57 years) with this technique. The color Doppler unit used in this study had a 5.0-MHz PLF-503 ST phased-array scanning head. Each vessel examination was repeated 10 times during a single session.


RESULTS
The following peak flow velocities were found: central retinal artery, 12.5 +/- 2.4 cm/s; central retinal vein, 4.4 +/- 0.49 cm/s; posterior ciliary arteries, 14.4 +/- 2.6 cm/s; vorticose veins, 5.5 +/- 1.0 cm/s; ophthamic artery, 36.9 +/- 7.0 cm/s. Ophthalmic artery systolic and end-diastolic velocities declined as a function of age; however, these changes were not significant (systolic: r = -0.24; diastolic, r = -0.22).


CONCLUSIONS
This noninvasive technique allows quantitative assessment of blood flow velocity in these vessels.
Mendívil
A
A
Department of Ophthalmology, Ramón y Cajal Hospital, Alcalá de Henares University, Madrid, Spain.
Cuartero
V
V
Mendívil
M P
MP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000098:blood supply; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color