Quantification of arteriolar tortuosity in two normotensive age groups

Arterioles of the human retinal circulation are directly visible and exhibit wide variations in their course. Not only is there marked variation in arteriolar tortuosity within a given age group, but also it has been proposed that the degree of arteriolar tortuosity is different in younger and older age groups. This paper reports on the development of a computer-assisted technique for measurement of arteriolar tortuosity and on the frequency distribution of this index in younger (mean age 22 years) and older (mean age 54.3 years) populations without hypertension.