Ophthalmodynamometry and ischemic ophthalmopathy.
BACKGROUND
To report on the clinical application of a modified ophthalmodynamometer for the detection of ischemic ophthalmopathy.


METHODS
A 70-year-old patient showed unilateral loss of vision to 1/20, thin retinal arteries, tiny intraretinal hemorrhages, and iris neovascularization. We performed a modified ophthalmodynamometry using a Goldmann contact lens in the holding grip of which a pressure sensor was incorporated.


RESULTS
Ophthalmodynamometry showed that the diastolic central retinal artery pressure was significantly (p<0.001) lower in the affected eye than in the contralateral eye (14.6+/-2.2 arbitrary units versus 45.5+/-5.1 arbitrary units). These ophthalmodynamometric measurements of both eyes were significantly (p<0.05) lower than in a control group (73.8+/-6.2 arbitrary units) consisting of 149 normal eyes. Doppler sonography eventually revealed a marked stenosis of the right internal carotid artery, consistent with the diagnosis of a unilateral ischemic ophthalmopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
Ophthalmodynamometry is a helpful additional tool in the assessment of the oculo-afferent and cerebroafferent vessels in patients with symptomatic ocular ischemia.
Jonas
Jost B
JB
Department of Ophthalmology, Mannheim of the Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany. Jost.Jonas@augen.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Kaltakji
Feras
F
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009884:Ophthalmodynamometry; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology