ABSTRACT.Purpose: To measure microvascular blood flow in patients with unilateral exfoliation syndrome (XFS) without glaucoma or ocular hypertension and to compare the values in the eyes with clinically detected exfoliation, their nonexfoliative fellow eyes of the same patients and control eyes. Methods: Twenty-two patients with clinically detected unilateral XFS and 30 age-matched healthy subjects were included in this study. Group 1 consisted of 22 eyes with clinical XFS, and the nonexfoliative fellow eyes of the same patients formed Group 2. The control group (Group 3) comprised the randomly selected eyes of 30 age-matched healthy subjects. Ocular blood flow values (volume, flow and velocity) were recorded from the optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary retina (PPR) using the Heidelberg retinal flowmeter (HRF). The differences between the three groups were compared statistically. Results: The mean values of blood flow obtained from the ONH and PPR in eyes with clinically detected exfoliation (Group 1) and their nonexfoliative fellow eyes (Group 2) were both significantly lower than the values for the control eyes (Group 3). The differences in ocular blood flow between the eyes with exfoliation and the nonexfoliative fellow eyes were not statistically significant [one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Dunnett's T3 test, p ‡ 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the eyes with clinically detected unilateral XFS were associated with reduced blood flow values in both the ONH and the PPR. The nonexfoliative fellow eyes also have lower blood flow values than the control eyes.
ABSTRACT.
Purpose: To determine the effect of photocoagulation on retinal blood flow (RBF) in eyes with ischaemic type central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Patients and Methods:Retinal blood flow was measured in 12 eyes with CRVO, 12 fellow eyes and 12 eyes of 12 age-matched healthy subjects using the Heidelberg retinal flowmeter (HRF). Microvascular blood flow values (volume, flow, velocity) were recorded from the upper temporal retina and macula. Eyes were re-examined 1 month after photocoagulation. We investigated whether there was a difference in RBF measurements before and after photocoagulation treatment. Results: In eyes with CRVO, mean RBF values (volume, flow and velocity) obtained from the upper temporal retina increased significantly after treatment (paired t-test, p ∞ 0.05). In contrast, mean RBF values from the macula were unaffected by photocoagulation (paired t-test, p Ͼ 0.05). Retinal blood flow values from the upper temporal retina obtained from control subjects were significantly higher than the values in eyes with CRVO before and after photocoagulation (unpaired t-test, p ∞ 0.05), but there was no significant difference between control subjects and CRVO patients in RBF values from the macula (unpaired t-test, p Ͼ 0.05). Mean RBF values were significantly higher in CRVO patients' fellow-eyes before photocoagulation in the eyes with CRVO (paired ttest, p ∞ 0.05) but were lower than in age-matched healthy control eyes (unpaired t-test, p ∞ 0.05). Macular blood flow did not differ between the eyes with CRVO and fellow eyes (paired t-test, p Ͼ 0.05). Conclusion: Laser photocoagulation increased retinal blood flow in eyes with CRVO, but RBF did not reach normal values. Photocoagulation was found to have no effect on RBF in the macular area.
Although, it may be result of macular hole, not necessarily the cause of it, these findings suggest that the eyes with idiopathic macular hole are associated with reduced foveolar blood flow. The measurement of the foveolar blood flow from choriocapillaris may be useful for identifying the subjects who have increased risk of development of macular hole in future. The study showed the association of a decrease in foveolar choroidal blood flow in eyes with idiopathic macular hole using HRF. Authors suggested that quantitative measurement of foveolar choroidal blood flow may be helpful for identifying the subjects who have increased risk of development of idiopathic macular hole.
The presence of drusen was found to have no effect on RNFL thickness at follow-up visits. OCT may provide a useful means to evaluate and follow up the RNFL thickness in these patients.
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