Aqueous humor flow in unilateral carotid stenosis

Our purpose was to study the relationship between carotid artery occlusive disease and aqueous flow in human subjects. Aqueous humor flow was measured by fluorophotometry in seven patients with unilateral carotid artery disease documented by oculoplethysmography. The mean (+/- SD) flow was 2.03 +/- 0.38 microliter/min in the affected eyes, 2.44 +/- 0.66 microliter/min in the unaffected contralateral eyes, and 2.56 +/- 0.61 microliter/min in a group of 14 age-matched controls. A statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in the aqueous flow rate was seen between the affected and unaffected eyes and between the affected and control eyes. Aqueous flow in the unaffected and control eyes was not statistically different. The anterior chamber volumes and intraocular pressures were also not significantly different among groups. Severe carotid artery disease may reduce aqueous humor formation by lowering ciliary body blood flow to a point beyond which the eye cannot compensate.