REVERSIBLE ABNORMALITIES IN THE OPHTHALMIC ARTERIES DETECTED BY COLORDOPPLER IMAGING

Purpose: To demonstrate dynamic, reversible abnormalities in ophthalmi c artery blood flow velocity identified with color Doppler imaging (CD I) in patients with clinical findings of ocular ischemia with and with out carotid artery stenosis. Methods: One patient with ocular ischemia and normal carotid arteries had abnormal ophthalmic artery velocities demonstrated by CDI. Two other patients with reversed ophthalmic arte ry flow and critical internal carotid artery stenosis were studied bef ore and after carotid endarterectomy. Peak systolic and diastolic velo cities as well as pulsatility indices of ophthalmic, posterior ciliary , and central retinal arteries were calculated. Results: The patient w ho had ocular ischemic syndrome without carotid artery stenosis showed increased ophthalmic artery velocities initially, and reversal of flo w within the ophthalmic artery subsequently developed. Clinical findin gs and symptoms improved gradually as ophthalmic artery, posterior cil iary, and central retinal artery velocities increased. The patients wi th critical internal carotid artery stenosis had reversed ophthalmic a rtery blood flow initially which reverted to normal after carotid enda rterectomy. Conclusion: Ocular ischemic syndrome may occur due to abno rmal blood flow in the ophthalmic artery in the absence as well as in the presence of carotid artery stenosis. Flow dynamics in the ophthalm ic artery and its branches can be shown by CDI to revert toward normal as the clinical findings improve spontaneously or after opening an oc cluded carotid artery.