Normal-tension glaucoma with reversed ophthalmic artery flow.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a case of normal-tension glaucoma with bilateral complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery.


METHODS
A 58-year-old man who had a 2-year history of normal-tension glaucoma in the left eye presented with ocular ischemic syndrome. To evaluate the orbital circulation, cerebral angiography and color Doppler imaging were performed.


RESULTS
Cerebral angiography showed bilateral complete occlusion of the internal carotid artery and collateral blood supply through the right and left ophthalmic arteries, in which the flow was reversed. Moreover, color Doppler imaging revealed lower blood flow velocities in the left central retinal and short posterior ciliary arteries, suggesting a steal phenomenon.


CONCLUSIONS
Normal-tension glaucoma in the present case may be caused by chronic reduction of retrobulbar blood flow resulting from a steal phenomenon.
Hashimoto
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, Sapporo Medical University, School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan.
Ohtsuka
K
K
Ohtsuka
H
H
Nakagawa
T
T
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014794:Visual Fields