Color Doppler imaging and spectral analysis of the optic nerve vasculature in glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
We used color Doppler imaging to study blood flow velocity in the central retinal artery and the short posterior ciliary arteries in patients with glaucoma.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma, 24 patients with normal-tension glaucoma, and 28 normal subjects were studied. The mean of the peak systolic velocity, the end diastolic velocity, and the resistive index were compared in the three groups.


RESULTS
Compared with the normal subjects, the patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma showed a statistically significant (P < .05) decrease in the mean end diastolic velocity and an increase in the mean resistive index in all vessels studied. The patients with normal-tension glaucoma showed similar changes, achieving significance most prominently in the central retinal arteries, compared with normal subjects (P < .05). There were no statistically significant differences between the patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma and those with normal-tension glaucoma.


CONCLUSIONS
Open-angle glaucoma appears to be associated with a decreased mean flow velocity and an increased mean resistive index in the ocular vasculature. These changes are in keeping with possibly compromised circulation in this region.
Rankin
S J
SJ
Department of Ophthalmology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
Walman
B E
BE
Buckley
A R
AR
Drance
S M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001158:Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009900:Optic Nerve / Q000098:blood supply*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color