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Br J Ophthalmol 2001;85:531-533 doi:10.1136/bjo.85.5.531
  • Scientific correspondence

Pulsatile ocular blood flow study: decreases in exudative age related macular degeneration

  1. Fumihiko Mori,
  2. Suguru Konno,
  3. Taiichi Hikichi,
  4. Yuji Yamaguchi,
  5. Satoshi Ishiko,
  6. Akitoshi Yoshida
  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan
  1. Fumihiko Mori, MD, PhD, Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Midorigaoka Higashi 2-1-1-1, Asahikawa 078-8510, Japanmorinaod5.dion.ne.jp
  • Accepted 13 February 2001

Abstract

BACKGROUND Pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) is a parameter for evaluating choroidal blood flow. POBF in the patients with non-exudative and exudative age related macular degeneration (AMD) was investigated.

METHODS POBF, pulse amplitude (PA), systolic and diastolic blood pressures, intraocular pressure (IOP), refractive error, and axial length were compared among 10 patients with non-exudative AMD, 11 patients with exudative AMD, and 69 age matched controls. A Langham OBF computerised tonometer was used with the participants in the sitting position to measure POBF and PA.

RESULTS No significant differences were found in age, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, IOP, or refractive error between patients with exudative and non-exudative AMD and the control subjects. In the patients with exudative AMD the POBF (median, 372.7 μl/min) and PA (median, 1.2 mm Hg) were significantly lower than in the patients with non-exudative AMD (median, 607.0 μl/min (p = 0.02) and 2.2 mm Hg (p = 0.04), respectively) and control subjects (median, 547.4 μl/min (p = 0.01) and 2.0 mm Hg (p = 0.01), respectively).

CONCLUSIONS These data show that the POBF and PA in the patients with exudative AMD are lower than in the patients with non-exudative AMD and normal subjects. Decreased choroidal blood flow may have a role in the development of choroidal neovascularisation in AMD.

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