[Status of the microcirculatory bed of the bulbar conjunctiva in various forms of vestibular dysfunction]

Using biomicroscopy of the eye conjunctiva, blood microcirculation was investigated in 200 patients with vestibular dysfunction (cervical osteochondrosis, Ménière's disease, neurocirculatory dystonia). All the patients showed microcirculation changes such as arteriolar spasms, reduced number of functioning capillaries, congestion and convolution of venules of medium and small caliber, and red blood cell aggregation. Capillary blood flow was intermittent: dash-dotted or bead-like. The arteriovenular coefficient decreased. Blood microcirculation changes were detected on the normal and affected sides of patients with cervical osteochondrosis, mostly on the affected side of patients with Ménière's disease, and on both sides of patients with neurocirculatory dystonia. Short-term changes in blood flow of vertebral arteries caused by head movements led to reflex responses of blood microcirculation of the conjunctiva. These reactions were most distinct in patients with cervical osteochondrosis and Mérière's disease. Eye conjunctiva biomicroscopy carried out during provocative tests with head movements may be used as a diagnostic test for identifying the type of vascular changes (vasoparetic or vasospastic) in vestibular dysfunction.