Ocular pulse amplitude and visual field changes in patients diagnosed with aortic regurgitation

To examine whether there is a relationship between ocular pulse amplitude (OPA), intraocular pressure (IOP), and visual field (VF) deterioration among the patients diagnosed with aortic regurgitation (AR).

Twenty-nine patients (average age of 62.06 ± 13.27 years) with AR diagnosis without glaucoma history as AR group and 32 healthy participants (average age 63.81 ± 6.42 years) as control group were included in the study. Routine ophthalmologic examination including VF test [mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD) and VF index (VFI) values were recorded], diurnal IOP and OPA measurements with Pascal dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) was conducted on the patients. VF deficits were classified by Glaucoma Staging System 2 (GSS 2) score.

Sixteen (50.0%) of 32 healthy subjects and 14 (48.3%) of 29 AR patients were female (p = 1.000). The measurement conducted at 15:30 among the diurnal IOP measurements performed with the Pascal DCT was found to be statistically significantly higher in the AR group (p = 0.009). While the MD and PSD values of the group diagnosed with AR were determined to be statistically significantly high, the VFI value was found to be significantly low. When the healthy cases and the patients diagnosed with AR were compared, it was observed that there was a statistically significant positive correlation in terms of the significant GSS 2 stage (p < 0.001).

Although there was no significant increase in IOP, VF deficits were detected in patients with AR. These VF pathologies may be due to the ocular perfusion disorder in AR. However, additional comprehensive studies that also examine perfusion are needed to further confirm this.