Evaluation of retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

To evaluate whether retrobulbar blood flow and choroidal thickness (CT) are affected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and the relationship between these values.

We evaluated 40 eyes of 20 RA patients and 40 eyes of 20 healthy controls. The enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography, color Doppler imaging, was held. Statistical analysis was performed.

Peak systolic velocity (PSV) of ophthalmic (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) were significantly higher in RA. No significant difference was observed when end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of OA and CRA was compared between the groups. The resistivity index (RI) of OA and CRA was higher in RA. Perifoveal/subfoveal CT was lower in RA. Negative correlation was detected between the RI of OA and the perifoveal CT, and a positive correlation was detected between RI of CRA and CT.

Ocular hemodynamics is effected by RA and can exaggerate ocular complications of various vascular diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, retinal vascular occlusions.