Relationship of cerebral blood flow and central visual function in primary open-angle glaucoma

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neurology
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Cerebrovascular health is increasingly recognized as a factor in ocular diseases.
• The relationship between cerebral blood flow and visual function in POAG requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the correlation between middle cerebral artery (MCA) blood flow velocities and central visual function parameters in POAG patients.
• To assess the association between MCA blood flow and electroretinogram (ERG) and visual field test results.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen POAG patients were included, with measurements of brachial arterial pressure, heart rate, visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, central visual field, foveal cone ERG, and transcranial Doppler (TCD) for MCA flow velocity.
• Pearson correlation coefficients were used to analyze the relationships between MCA flow velocity and visual function parameters.

Main Results:

• Significant positive correlations were found between MCA mean flow velocity and focal cone ERG amplitude (r=0.69, P=0.009).
• MCA mean flow velocity also correlated significantly with central visual field mean sensitivity (r=0.76, P=0.005) and mean defect (r=0.73, P=0.007).
• Correlations were observed between MCA flow velocity and visual acuity (r=0.57, P=0.036) and contrast sensitivity (r=0.61, P=0.027).

Conclusions:

• Diminished central visual function in some POAG patients may be linked to widespread cerebrovascular insufficiency.
• MCA blood flow velocity serves as a potential indicator of cerebrovascular status impacting visual function in POAG.
• Further research is warranted to explore the clinical implications of cerebrovascular factors in POAG management.