Evaluation of ocular surface temperature and retrobulbar haemodynamics by means of infrared thermography and color doppler imaging in glaucoma patients
- Fernando Galassi (fernando.galassi{at}unifi.it),
- Barbara Giambene (barbaragiambene{at}virgilio.it),
- Andrea Corvi,
- Giacomo Falaschi (falaschi.giacomo{at}gmail.com)
- Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Italy
- Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Italy
- Department of Mechanics and Industrial Technology, Italy
- Department of Mechanics and Industrial Technology, Italy
- Published Online First 21 February 2007
Abstract
Headings: ocular surface temperature (OST) may be related to retrobulbar haemodynamics in glaucoma patients.
Aims: to compare OST measurements in glaucoma patients and healthy controls and to investigate the correlation between OST, intraocular pressure, and retrobulbar haemodynamics in glaucoma patients.
Methods: thirty-two patients with primary open- angle glaucoma (POAG) and forty controls were included in the study. The parameters considered in both POAGs and controls were intraocular pressure (IOP) and OST values measured by means of infrared ocular thermography. Color Doppler Imaging was used to determine haemodynamic parameters of ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs) in POAGs.
Results: OST values were significantly lower in POAGs than in controls (p<0.0001). OST was negatively related with resistivity index of ophthalmic artery (p<0.0001), central retinal artery (p=0.001), and short posterior ciliary arteries (p<0.0001), and positively related with end-diastolic velocity of ophthalmic artery (p=0.02) and short posterior ciliary arteries (p=0.05).
Conclusions: our study suggests that OST may be a marker of impaired retrobulbar haemodynamics in glaucoma patients.
