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Abstract #8309 Published in IGR 4-3
The relationship between retrobulbar blood flow velocity and glaucoma damage: an intraindividual comparison
Breil P; Krummenauer F; Schmitz S; Pfeiffer NOphthalmologe 2002; 99: 613-616
BACKGROUND: Glaucomatous optic nerve damage is thought to be influenced by ocular perfusion. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a difference in visual field and Heidelberg Retinal Tomography (HRT) between two eyes of an individual glaucoma patient is reflected in different blood flow velocities in retrobulbar vessels. METHODS: Data from 53 patients, including 26 normal-tension glaucoma patients (NTG) and 27 high-tension glaucoma patients (HTG), were evaluated retrospectively. In 38 patients, asymmetric glaucomatous damage (AGD) could be demonstrated by both structural (HRT) and functional measures (static or Goldmann perimetry). In 15 patients, there was symmetric glaucomatous damage (SGD). To discriminate between AGD and SGD, the authors used a score for HRT and visual field. Color Doppler imaging (CDI) was performed with a Siemens Quantum 2000. RESULTS: No significant differences were found when comparing group means of intraindividual deviation of CDI in patients with AGD versus SGD. Overall analysis of CDI values in NTG versus HTG eyes showed no significant differences eithr. Nevertheless, the authors measured decreased blood flow velocities for NTG compared to HTG eyes especially in short posterior ciliary arteries, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities. CONCLUSIONS: A simple correlation between retrobulbar blood flow velocities and glaucomatous damage could not be found. However, color Doppler images can give important additional information in the diagnosis of glaucoma, especially normal tension glaucoma. LA: German
P. Breil, MD, Universitatsaugenklinik, Langenbeckstrasse 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany. breil@mail.uni-mainz.de
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
