J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  1996 Jun;37(6):993-998.

The Measurement of Ocular Blood Flow Velocity using Doppler Ultrasound in Normal Tension Glaucoma Patients

• Kim JJ
• Youn JW
• Lee HB

Abstract

To evaluate the implication of vascular factors in normal tension glaucoma, the authors measured ocular blood flow velocity in normal tension glaucoma patients using Doppler Ultrasound. Seventeen consecutive patients(29 eyes) of normal tension glaucoma were studied. The peak systolic and diastolic velocities of ophthalmic artery in normal tension glaucoma were 25.48 +/- 4.09cm/sec and 5.48 +/- 1.16cm/sec, respectively; there were statistically significant decrease of blood flow velocities compared to those of primary open angle glaucoma(30.83 +/- 5.38cm/sec, 9.10 +/- 3.25cm/sec)(p<0.05) and normal group(38.12 +/- 6.42cm/sec, 9.77 +/- 2.64cm/sec)(p<0.05). The peak systolic and diastolic velocities of central retinal artery in normal tension glaucoma were 5.95 +/- 1.05cm/sec and 2.14 +/- 0.83cm/sec, respectively; there was statistically no significant decrease of blood flow velocities compared to those of normal group and primary open angle glaucoma group. Above results imply that the blood flow velocity of ophthalmic artery decrease significantly in normal tension glaucoma and local vascular factors are somewhat related to the development of the normal tension glaucoma. Further studies are necessary to validate these preliminary findings.

Keyword

Doppler Ultrasound; Normal tension glaucoma; Ocular blood flow velocity

MeSH Terms

Blood Flow Velocity*
Glaucoma, Open-Angle
Humans
Low Tension Glaucoma*
Ophthalmic Artery
Retinal Artery
Ultrasonography*