advertisement
Abstract #8139 Published in IGR 4-3
Retinal blood flow in the normal human eye using the canon laser blood flowmeter
Garcia Jr JPS; Garcia PT; Rosen RBOphthalmic Research 2002; 34: 295-299
PURPOSE: To establish a retinal blood flow database in normal human eyes using the Canon Laser Blood Flowmeter (CLBF). METHODS: Fourteen healthy subjects (seven males, seven females) between the ages of 24 and 33 years underwent bidirectional laser Doppler velocimetry (BLDV) in one eye using the CLBF. Measurements consisting of blood vessel diameter (D) in μm, velocity (V) in mm per second, and flow (F) in μl per minute were recorded at sites along the major retinal veins. Four to six veins were measured in each eye. Total volumetric blood flow was calculated as the sum of the venous flow rates in the major veins. RESULTS: Total retinal blood flow could be reliably determined on five of the subjects (one male, four females). Venous blood vessel diameter ranged from 84-177 μm. The correlations between D and F, as well as D and V were found to be significant. Specifically, the correlation coefficient between D and F was 0.885 (p < or = 0.001), while the log-log regression coefficient was 3.35 ± 0.23 (p < or = 0.001). The correlation coefficient between D and V was 0.694 (p < or = 0.001), while the log-log regression coefficient was 1.43 ? 0.27 (p < or = 0.001). Total venous blood flow showed a mean of 64.9 ± (SD) 12.8 μl/min (range: 50.9-80.6 μl/min). Venous blood flow averaged 44.1 ± 4.5 μl/min temporally and 20.8 ± 9.2 μl/min nasally, showing a temporal retinal blood flow approximately twice that of the nasal retina (p < 0.001). On the other hand, venous blood flow averaged 30.6 ± 9.8 μl/min superiorly and 34.3 ± 8.0 μl/min inferiorly. These values showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: The average total retinal blood flow in five healthy subjects using the CLBF was 64.9 ± 12.8 μl/min. Venous blood flow at the temporal retina was about twice that of the nasal retina, whereas flow at the superior and inferior retina showed no statistical difference. These findings are comparable with studies done using a different BLDV system.
J.P.S. Garcia Jr, MD, 321 E. 13th Street, Apartment 14F, New York, NY 10003, USA. jgarcia@nyee.edu
Classification:
6.11 Bloodflow measurements (Part of: 6 Clinical examination methods)
