Ocular Blood Flow in Healthy and Primary Open-Angle Glaucomatous Eyes

PURPOSE: To evaluate blood flow parameters in the ophthalmic artery, in the posterior ciliary arteries and in the central retinal artery in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Hemodynamic parameters were evaluated by color Doppler imaging in 48 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and 42 age-matched normal control subjects. Peak systolic velocity (Pv), end-diastolic velocity (Ev), and resistive index (RI) were calculated in the central retinal artery, short posterior ciliary arteries and the ophthalmic artery. RESULTS: The analysis of the ocular blood flow velocities in the central retinal artery, short posterior ciliary arteries and the ophthalmic artery revealed a significant reduction in peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity with an increase in resistive index in primary open-angle glaucoma compared with controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data indicate primary open-angle glaucoma to be associated with a decreased flow velocity and increased resistive index in the ocular vasculature.