Retrobulbar haemodynamics and morphometric optic disc analysis in primary open-angle glaucoma.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies confirmed reduced retrobulbar haemodynamics in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).


OBJECTIVE
To investigate a correlation between retrobulbar haemodynamics and morphometric neuroretinal rim analysis in patients with POAG.


METHODS
51 patients with POAG (mean (standard deviation (SD)) age 65 (11) years) were included in this clinical study. Blood flow velocities (peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV)) of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery (CRA), posterior ciliary arteries (PCA) and central retinal vein were measured using colour Doppler imaging (Siemens Sonoline Sienna, Erlangen, Germany). Optic disc morphometry was carried out using scanning laser tomography (Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph II Heidelberg Egineering Heidelberg, Germany). The stereometric parameters of the neuroretinal rim (rim area, rim volume, cup shape measure and retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) cross-sectional area) were used for analysis.


RESULTS
The PSV of the CRA was significantly (p<0.001) correlated with rim area (r = 0.50) and rim volume (r = 0.51). The minimum velocities of the central retinal vein were significantly (p<0.001) correlated with rim volume (r = 0.56) and RNFL cross-sectional area (r = 0.49). No correlations were found for the flow velocities of the ophthalmic artery and PCAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Retrobulbar haemodynamics of the central retinal artery and vein are correlated with the neuroretinal rim damage in POAG.
Plange
N
N
Department of Ophthalmology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany. nplange@ukaachen.de
Kaup
M
M
Weber
A
A
Arend
K O
KO
Remky
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000473:pathology*; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D012169:Retinal Vein / Q000503:physiopathology; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance