Reduced choroidal blood flow can induce visual field defect in open angle glaucoma patients without intraocular pressure elevation following encircling scleral buckling.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cause of the progressive glaucomatous visual field defects in three patients after an encircling scleral buckle for a rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).


METHODS
Scanning laser Doppler flowmetry and visual field tests were performed on three cases with unilateral progressive visual field defect after an encircling scleral buckling for a RRD. Similar measurements were made after the buckle was removed.


RESULTS
After implanting the scleral buckle, the intraocular pressure was normal and chamber angle was open. The blood flow in the neuroretinal rim of the optic disk was lower than that in the healthy fellow eye. After removing the buckle, the blood flow improved to normal levels and a further worsening of the visual field was not detected.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that an encircling scleral buckle may impair choroidal circulation and lead to visual field defects similar to eyes with normal tension glaucoma.
Sato
Enrique Adan
EA
Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Shinoda
Kei
K
Inoue
Makoto
M
Ohtake
Yuichiro
Y
Kimura
Itaru
I
D000293:Adolescent; D001775:Blood Circulation; D002829:Choroid / Q000098:blood supply*; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009898:Optic Disk / Q000098:blood supply; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000601:surgery; D012591:Scleral Buckling / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields