Choroidal laser Doppler flowmetry in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate normal choroidal blood flow and its relationship with various factors such as age, systemic blood pressure, and intraocular pressure (IOP).


METHODS
A total of 70 healthy subjects were recruited. Choroidal blood flow was assessed using a method based on laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) technique. The LDF parameters of velocity, volume, and flux were obtained. The influence of age, mean systemic blood pressure, IOP, smoking, and sex on choroidal hemodynamic parameters was assessed in a multiple linear regression model. The correlations between interocular difference in IOP and interocular differences in the LDF parameters were assessed by means of the Pearson linear correlation factor.


RESULTS
Velocity decreased significantly (P = .03) with advancing age of the subjects and volume increased significantly (P = .02) with increasing IOP. Mean blood pressure, smoking, and sex had no influence on the choroidal LDF parameters. Interocular difference in IOP correlated significantly with interocular difference in volume (R = 0.34, P<.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Choroidal blood flow velocity decreased with increasing age of the subjects, while the volume of moving erythrocytes decreased with lower IOP.
Straubhaar
M
M
University Eye Clinic Basel, Switzerland.
Orgül
S
S
Gugleta
K
K
Schötzau
A
A
Erb
C
C
Flammer
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012039:Regional Blood Flow