Laser Doppler flowmetry of the optic nerve head in glaucoma

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.