[Changes in the circulation of the eye caused by Vörösmarthy preoperative ocular pressure]

Prior to, directly after and 15 minutes after preoperative Vörösmarthy oculopression (30, 40, or 50 mm Hg; 15 min), 30 patients were examined by oculooscillodynamography after Ulrich. Systolic retinal and ciliary perfusion pressures were higher directly after oculopression, whereas the systolic and diastolic ocular blood pressures (intramural pressures) were lower. These changes did not depend significantly on the level of oculopression. Fifteen minutes after oculopression, the ocular perfusion and blood pressures were largely normalized. The hemodynamic changes observed reflect the decrease in intraocular pressure resulting from oculopression. The changes are thought to have a beneficial effect on ocular perfusion (reduction in tissue pressure, decrease in vascular resistance, increase in transmural pressure). The authors' results are consistent with the finding in animal experiments that blood flow to the retina, optic nerve, and uvea increases for a short time after oculopression (Jay et al., Acta Ophthalmol. 1986).