The influence of sex difference in measurements with the Langham Ocular Blood Flow System

Purpose: To assess sex difference and parameters possibly accounting for su ch a difference in healthy subjects evaluated by means of the Langham Ocula r Blood Flow (OBF) System. Methods: Pulse amplitude of intraocular pressure (IOP) and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) as measured with the Langham OBF System were assessed in 86 healthy men and 69 healthy women. Results: Compared to men, women showed higher POBF (mean SD: 722.6 +/- 152. 8 versus 647.8 +/- 164.9 muL/min; P=.0056) and pulse amplitude (mean +/- SD : 2.3 +/-0.7 versus 2.0 +/-0.6 mm Hg; P=.0043) values. Sex difference was s till significant after correcting for age, refraction. blood pressure, IOP, and pulse rate. Pulse amplitude correlated negatively with pulse rate, and POBF correlated negatively with IOP. Women had higher readings in pulse am plitude and POBF, even after correcting for age, refraction, IOP, blood pre ssure, and pulse rate. Conclusions: While using the Langham OBF System. one needs to be aware of s ex difference that is independent of other hemodynamic parameters. How the observed difference in POBF is related to ocular blood flow. and how it mig ht influence the preponderance of various ocular diseases in men or women r emains to be clarified. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2001; 45:528-532 (C) 2001 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.