The influence of sex difference in measurements with the Langham Ocular Blood Flow System.
OBJECTIVE
To assess sex difference and parameters possibly accounting for such a difference in healthy subjects evaluated by means of the Langham Ocular Blood Flow (OBF) System.


METHODS
Pulse amplitude of intraocular pressure (IOP) and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) as measured with the Langham OBF System were assessed in 86 healthy men and 69 healthy women.


RESULTS
Compared to men, women showed higher POBF (mean +/- SD: 722.6 +/- 152.8 versus 647.8 +/- 164.9 microL/min; P =.0056) and pulse amplitude (mean +/- SD: 2.3 +/- 0.7 versus 2.0 +/- 0.6 mm Hg; P =.0043) values. Sex difference was still significant after correcting for age, refraction, blood pressure, IOP, and pulse rate. Pulse amplitude correlated negatively with pulse rate, and POBF correlated negatively with IOP. Women had higher readings in pulse amplitude and POBF, even after correcting for age, refraction, IOP, blood pressure, and pulse rate.


CONCLUSIONS
While using the Langham OBF System, one needs to be aware of sex difference that is independent of other hemodynamic parameters. How the observed difference in POBF is related to ocular blood flow, and how it might influence the preponderance of various ocular diseases in men or women remains to be clarified.
Gekkieva
M
M
University Eye Clinic, Basel, Switzerland.
Orgül
S
S
Gherghel
D
D
Gugleta
K
K
Prünte
C
C
Flammer
J
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D012737:Sex Factors