[Noise field findings in 24 patients with coronary heart disease].
OBJECTIVE
In earlier studies it was shown that patients with vascular disturbances (e.g. sudden hearing loss) had white-noise field campimetry abnormalities despite normal visual fields. The aim of this study was to clarify whether patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) have such disturbances in the white-noise field campimetry, too.


METHODS
Twenty-four patients (m:f = 23:1; mean age 58 +/- 9 years) with an angiographically documented CHD and 30 healthy controls (m:f = 29:1; mean age 54 +/- 7 years) were examined. In order to evaluate the morphological and functional ocular status, we examined the following parameters: morphological status, visual acuity, intraocular pressure, perimetry (Tübinger Automatic Perimeter 2000 ct, Oculus) and white-noise field campimetry (Tübinger Electronic Campimeter, Oculus).


RESULTS
Fifteen patients had had a cardiac infarction. Twenty-one patients, but only 6 controls had alterations in perilimbal vessels of the conjunctiva and sixteen patients had a tortuousity of retinal vessels. The visual acuity, the intraocular pressure, the cup/disc ratio and the visual fields were within normal ranges. However, twenty patients and 5 controls were abnormal in the white-noise field campimetry.


CONCLUSIONS
Although patients with CHD appeared unaffected in the standard eye examinations, the disturbances in the white-noise field campimetry indicated a functional visual impairment. Together with the changes in the perilimbal vessels of the conjunctiva and the retinal vessels, a disturbed ocular microcirculation as the underlaying cause could be discussed.
Erb
C
C
Universitäts-Augenklinik, Eberhard-Karls-Universität, Tübingen, Schleichstr. 12, 72076 Tübingen. Erb.Carl@MH-hannover.de
Hettesheimer
H
H
Stübiger
N
N
Voelker
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016477:Artifacts; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016850:Limbus Corneae / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012607:Scotoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000502:physiology