Pulsatile ocular blood flow in patients with pseudoexfoliation

Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is one of the most frequent causes of open-angle glaucoma and is statistically significant associated with a high risk of hypertension, angina, myocardial infarction or stroke and retinal vein thrombosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) in pseudoexfoliation syndrome without (PEX) and with glaucoma (PEG).

Seventeen eyes with PEX, 17 with PEG and 11 normal eyes of age-matched patients were enrolled. A complete ophthalmological examination included measuring the POBF with the Langham Pneumotonometer as well as the nerve fiber layer thickness by scanning laser polarimetry (GDx).

The blood flow parameters, pulse volume and POBF, were statistically significant different between normals and patients with PEG (p < 0.003, t-test). A negative correlation between the intraocular pressure and the POBF was found for all eyes tested. Analysis of GDx? parameters showed a negative correlation for the "number" with the POBF and a positive one for ellipse modulation.

Although pseudoexfoliation is reported to be a systemic disease measurement of the POBF could not detect any difference between normals and PEX, but was statistically significant different in PEG. Assessments of nerve fiber layer thickness as determined by scanning laser polarimetry also showed a correlation with POBF in some parameters tested.