Time-Course Retinal Circulation Changes in Eyes With Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Using Laser Speckle Flowgraphy

Purpose: To evaluate retinal circulation in eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). Methods: The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fluorescein angiography (FA), and laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) values were measured at the first visit in 42 patients with CRAO (42 eyes; mean age, 66.0±14.0 years. LSFG was performed at baseline, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months; the difference between the mean blur rate vessel area and mean blur rate tissue area (MV-MT), reflecting the retinal vessel blood flow, was measured. FA measured the arteriovenous passage (AV) time. Time-course changes in the MV-MT and BCVA and the relationship between MV-MT and final BCVA were examined. Results: MV-MT was significantly correlated with AV time ( P <0.001). The MV-MT increased significantly after 1, 3, and 6 months ( P <0.001). The VA improved significantly until 1 month ( P <0.01). Multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the baseline BCVA ( P <0.001) and MV-MT at 1 month ( P =0.01) and the final BCVA. Age and MV-MT were significantly negatively correlated at 1 month ( P <0.001). Conclusions: The retinal circulation improved significantly within 1 month; younger patients had better retinal circulation improvement. The baseline BCVA and retinal circulation within 1 month were correlated with the final BCVA.