COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING AND SPECTRAL-ANALYSIS OF THE OPTIC-NERVE VASCULATURE IN GLAUCOMA

PURPOSE: We used color Doppler imaging to study blood flow velocity in the central retinal artery and the short posterior ciliary arteries i n patients with glaucoma. METHOD: Fifty two patients with chronic open -angle glaucoma, 24 patients with normal-tension glaucoma, and 28 norm al subjects were studied. The mean of the peak systolic velocity, the end diastolic velocity, and the resistive index were compared in the t hree groups. RESULTS: Compared with the normal subjects, the patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma showed a statistically significant (P < .05) decrease in the mean end diastolic velocity and an increase in the mean resistive index in all vessels studied. The patients with no rmal-tension glaucoma showed similar changes, achieving significance m ost prominently in the central retinal arteries, compared with normal subjects (P < .05). There were no statistically significant difference s be tween the patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma and those wit h normal-tension glaucoma. CONCLUSIONS: Open-angle glaucoma appears to be associated with a decreased mean flow velocity and an increased me an resistive index in the ocular vasculature. These changes are in kee ping with possibly compromised circulation in this region.