title: Ocular blood flow in polycystic ovary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) alters ocular blood flow parameters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels was performed in 41 eyes of 41 patients with PCOS. Forty-eight eyes of 48 age-matched volunteers served as controls. The ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery and the posterior ciliary artery were examined. Ocular blood flow indices of the peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index were computed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity of the OA, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery were significantly increased in PCOS patients in comparison to the controls (all P < 0.001). The mean systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index of the OA in PCOS patients were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Ocular blood flow velocity was positively correlated with serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and total cholesterol levels. There was a significant negative correlation between serum glucose and insulin levels and ocular blood flow velocity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ocular blood flow velocity is increased in PCOS patients and vascular resistance seems to decrease only in the OA.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Nurgül
authors: N
authors: Örnek
authors: Department of Radiology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Mikail
authors: M
authors: İnal
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Özlem Banu
authors: ÖB
authors: Tulmaç
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Zeynep
authors: Z
authors: Özcan-Dağ
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Kırıkkale University School of Medicine, Kırıkkale, Turkey.
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Örnek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D019842:Ciliary Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009880:Ophthalmic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012161:Retinal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: blood flow; ocular; polycystic ovary syndrome