Ocular blood flow in polycystic ovary syndrome

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) alters ocular blood flow parameters.

Color Doppler imaging of the orbital vessels was performed in 41 eyes of 41 patients with PCOS. Forty-eight eyes of 48 age-matched volunteers served as controls. The ophthalmic artery (OA), the central retinal artery and the posterior ciliary artery were examined. Ocular blood flow indices of the peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index were computed.

The peak systolic velocity, diastolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity of the OA, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery were significantly increased in PCOS patients in comparison to the controls (all P < 0.001). The mean systolic/diastolic ratio, resistive index and pulsatility index of the OA in PCOS patients were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Ocular blood flow velocity was positively correlated with serum luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and total cholesterol levels. There was a significant negative correlation between serum glucose and insulin levels and ocular blood flow velocity.

Ocular blood flow velocity is increased in PCOS patients and vascular resistance seems to decrease only in the OA.