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Abstract #3469 Published in IGR 4-2
Capillary density and retinal diameter measurements and their impact on altered retinal circulation in glaucoma: a digital fluorescein angiographic study
Arend O; Remky A; Plange N; Martin BJ; Harris ABritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2002; 86: 429-433
AIM: Normal-pressure glaucoma (NPG) patients exhibit prolonged retinal arteriovenous passage times in fluorescein angiography and color Doppler imaging suggests increased resistance downstream from the central retinal and posterior ciliary arteries. The aim of the study was to elucidate the morphological source of decreased perfusion and increased resistance of the ocular circulation in NPG. METHODS: Retinal arteriovenous passage time (AVP) and peripapillary arterial and venous diameters were measured in digital scanning laser fluorescein angiograms. For estimation of retinal capillary density, the area of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) and the perifoveal intercapillary area (PIA) was quantified. Thirty-six patients with NPG (mean age, 57 (SD 13) years) and 21 healthy subjects (mean age, 51 (13) years) were enrolled in the comparative study. RESULTS: In NPG patients the AVP (2.55 (1.1) seconds) was significantly prolonged (p < 0.001) when compared with healthy subject data (AVP: 1.70 (0.39) seconds). No differences for arterial or venous diameter, FAZ, and PIA were observed in NPG patients compared with healthy subjects. FAZ, PIA, arterial and venous diameter were not correlated with visual field indices (except venous diameter with PSD, r = 0.35 (p < 0.05)) or cup to disc ratios. AVP was significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the size of the optic nerve head (r = -0.28), visual field indices (MD: r = -0.3; PSD: r = 0.3; CPSD: r = 0.3), and contrast sensitivity (r = -0.34). CONCLUSIONS: AVP times are significantly prolonged in NPG. The slowing of the retinal transit does not result from capillary dropout, or changes of peripapillary arterial or venous diameters with increased vascular resistance.
Dr. O. Arend, Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School of the Technical University of Aachen, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52057 Aachen, Germany. oliver.arend@post.rwth-aachen.de
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
