ASSOCIATION OF RETINAL CAPILLARY PERFUSION WITH VISUAL STATUS DURING CHRONIC GLAUCOMA THERAPY

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine whether retinal micr ocirculation is associated with the degree of visual function in glauc omatous eyes receiving chronic bilateral medical therapy with topical beta-blockers. Methods: A nonrandomized, 3-year prospective clinical s tudy was undertaken on 37 patients with glaucoma and normal visual acu ity receiving symmetric topical medication in both eyes. Humphrey 30-2 , Henson CFA 2000, and Vistech 3 and 6 cycles/degree contrast sensitiv ity were obtained bilaterally at multiple visits, along with Oculix 10 00 blue-field estimates of perimacular leukocyte velocity. The mean as ymmetry of measurements obtained throughout the treatment period for e ach pair of eyes was determined, and correlations were obtained to ass ess visual function asymmetry against circulatory asymmetry. Results: Significant associations were observed between blue-field entoptic cap illary leukocyte velocity measurements and those for all three visual function testing methods, the eye with the superior vision typically h aving the higher mean leukocyte velocity (P < 0.001 for both Humphrey mean deviation and Henson perimetry, P < 0.002 for Humphrey corrected pattern standard deviation, and P < 0.02 for contrast sensitivity at b oth 3 and 6 cycles/degree). Conclusions: Central retinal microcirculat ion is associated with various measures of central and peripheral visu al function in glaucomatous eyes receiving beta-adrenergic blocker the rapy.