Comparison of flow velocity in ophthalmic artery between glaucomatous and normal subjects

Purpose: To study the hemodynamic parameters in ophthalmic artery (OA) using color Doppler imaging in subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and age matched normals. Methods: Sixty-eight eyes of 68 subjects (41 males and 27 females) constituted material for this prospective observational study. They were divided into three groups; Group A had 24 patients with POAG, Group B had 18 patients with NTG and Group C had 26 normal subjects. They underwent CDI of OA. The outcome variables were peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistivity index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). Data were compiled and analyzed using one-way ANOVA analysis. Results: The mean ± SD age of POAG patients, NTG patient and normal subjects was 59.95 ± 7.35, 58.11 ± 9.97 and 57.73 ± 5.39 years, respectively. The mean intra ocular pressure (IOP) was 29.8 ± 5.0, 15.9 ± 2.4 and 16.6 ± 1.7mm Hg in Group A, B and C, respectively. In group A, the mean PSV, EDV, RI and PI were 18.2 ± 3.80, 3.71 ± 1.40, 0.93 ± 0.12 and 2.8 ± 0.42. In group B, 26.6 ± 1.72, 4.93 ± 1.32, 0.84 ± 0.02 and 1.32 ± 0.20 and in group C, 35.4 ± 3.04, 8.08 ± 0.69, 0.77 ± 0.03 and 1.80 ± 0.17, respectively. All the values were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05). Lower PSV and EDV were found in POAG and NTG patients, while RI was higher than in normal subjects. Conclusion: The hemodynamic parameters are significantly affected in POAG and NTG patients. The PSV and EDV are decreased and RI is increased. EDV is more sensitive for the assessment of hemodynamic changes.