Purpose:
To investigate the pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) levels in cases with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), ocular hypertension (OHT) and normotensive glaucoma (NTG).
Material and Method:
Totally 99 eyes of 30 POAG (Group 1), 21 OHT (Group 2), 23 NTG (Group 3) and 25 control (Group 4) cases were included in this study. In all cases, intraocular pressure (IOP) and POBF levels were measured by ocular blood flow analyzer. Differences between groups were analyzed statistically.
Results:
The mean ages of the groups were 54.37±8.05; 52.57±7; 52.26±6.08; and 51.96±10.28, respectively. While the average IOP levels of groups were 16.91±3.91; 24.05+2.11; 14.48±2.15; and 17.47±3.64 mmHg, respectively (p<0.0001), the mean POBF levels of groups were 16.15±5.14; 16.64±4.06; 15.95±4.48; 20.11±4.12 µl/s, respectively (p=0.004). There was statistically significant difference for both IOP and POBF between Group 3 and Group 4. For only IOP, there was statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 3 as well as between Group 2 and Groups 1, 3 and 4. There was also significant difference for only POBF between Group 1 and Group 4. In the whole study group, POBF levels did not demonstrate a significant correlation with age and IOP levels (p=0.39 and p=0.812, respectively).
Discussion:
The levels of POBF were found to be lower in cases with POAG and NTG compared to control cases. This finding supports the vascular theory in glaucomatous optic nerve damage and can be used as a guide in the etiopathogenesis of glaucoma. (Turk J Ophthalmol 2012; 42: 125-30)
Keywords: Diagnosis, low-tension glaucoma, ocular hypertension, open-angle glaucoma, regional blood flow