Retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters in open-angle and angle-closure glaucoma patients

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to compare the retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters in the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior cilliary arteries (PCA), in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and angle-closure glaucoma (ACG) patients.

Patients and methods

A total of 52 eyes from 52 patients with OAG and 25 eyes from 25 ACG patients who met the inclusion/exclusion criteria were included in this cross-sectional study. Peak-systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and Pourcelot resistivity index (RI) were assessed in the OA, CRA, and PCA. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured both with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and with the Dynamic Contour tonometer (DCT) three times, respectively. Ocular pulse amplitude was measured using DCT.

Results

The RI was significantly higher in both the ophthalmic and short PCA in the OAG patients as compared with that in those ACG patients, P=0.003 and 0.048, respectively. There was no correlation between the IOP measured with GAT and the retrobulbar hemodynamic parameters in either OAG or ACG.

Conclusions

There was an increased resistance to blood flow in the OA of OAG as compared with ACG patients. Additionally, the degree of circulatory disturbance was not related to either the IOP or the visual-field damage.