Computer data processing in the examination of retinal vessels in essential hypertension and atherosclerosis

The mean retinal venoarterial width ratio in 100 healthy subjects was measured with a PZO stereoscopic microscope equipped with a calibrated ocular and with an automatic digital image transformer coupled with an ODRA 1204 computer. The mean value was estimated as equal to 1.21 with an SD of 0.071. The same study was performed in 75 atherosclerotic patients and 75 patients with essential hypertension. In the first group the mean retinal venoarterial width ratio amounted to 1.51 (SD 0.054), while in the second one it was equal to 1.53 (SD 0.079).