The introduction of ocular laser Doppler flowmetry during the last decade h
as greatly improved our ability to noninvasively assess the hemodynamics of
the optic nerve in patients with glaucoma. Studies with laser Doppler flow
metry have determined that blood flow in the optic nerve is diminished in e
yes with primary open-angle glaucoma and that this decrease occurs in patte
rns consistent with glaucomatous damage. Lower systemic blood pressure is a
ssociated with lower blood flow, supporting numerous studies linking system
ic hypotension to glaucomatous damage. This direct relationship between sys
temic blood pressure and optic nerve blood flow has significant implication
s in terms of the etiology of glaucomatous damage and the treatment of ocul
ar and systemic diseases in the glaucoma patient. Further research is neede
d to determine whether the circulatory abnormalities of the optic nerve hea
d are a cause or a result of glaucomatous damage. (C) 1999 by Elsevier Scie
nce Inc. All rights reserved.