Choroidal and retinal blood flow changes in degenerative myopia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine changes in choroidal and retinal blood flow in myopic retinopathy.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Ophthalmology department of a university-affiliated hospital in Elazig, Turkey.


METHODS
Twenty-one consecutive patients (40 eyes) with degenerative myopia and 20 age-matched healthy emmetropic volunteers (38 eyes). Both groups were free of any systemic disease, such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension, that can affect micro- or macrocirculation.


METHODS
Posterior ciliary artery and central retinal artery peak systolic, peak diastolic and mean blood flow velocity (measured with colour Doppler ultrasonography), pulsatility index and resistance index.


RESULTS
The posterior ciliary artery mean peak systolic (12.34 vs. 16.90 cm/s) and peak diastolic (3.12 vs. 5.10 cm/s) blood flow velocity values were significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the posterior ciliary artery resistance index between the two groups (0.74 vs. 0.69) (p < 0.05). The central retinal artery mean peak systolic (6.64 vs. 9.72 cm/s) and peak diastolic (2.01 vs. 3.07 cm/s) blood flow velocity values were also significantly lower in the study group than in the control group (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Choroidal and retinal blood flow was decreased in degenerative myopia. The reduced choroidal blood flow may be partly due to increased vascular resistance. Decreased retinal blood flow is probably an adaptive change.
Akyol
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey.
Kükner
A S
AS
Ozdemir
T
T
Esmerligil
S
S
D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003971:Diastole; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009216:Myopia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013599:Systole; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014655:Vascular Resistance