Colour Doppler Analysis of the Choroidal Circulation in Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma

To assess any alteration of the blood flow in the ophthalmic artery, in the posterior ciliary arteries and in the choroid of the glaucomatous eye.We studied 15 patients, 11 males and 4 females (mean age 62.4 years), with chronic open-angle glaucoma in good tonometric control by medical therapy. All patients underwent colour Doppler examination of the ophthalmic artery, posterior ciliary artery and choroid. The data for peak systolic velocity (Pv) and resistance index (RI) were compared with those of healthy control subjects.The Pv in the ophthalmic artery of glaucomatous patients was 32.961 +/- 3.045 cm/s (p0.033) and RI 0.789 +/- 0.018 (p0.001). The Pv of posterior ciliary arteries was 8.720 +/- 1.645 cm/s (p0.001) and RI 0.722 +/- 0.024 (p0.005). In the choroid the Pv was 10.637 +/- 1.401 cm/s (p0.001) and RI 0.643 +/- 0.051 (p0.022).Our data indicate that in a chronic open-angle glaucoma there is an alteration in the eye blood flow especially in the posterior ciliary arteries and the choroid.