Color Doppler imaging of the retrobulbar circulation in progressive glaucoma optic neuropathy.

It is known that elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is the primary risk factor for glaucoma. Recently, more and more evidences have shown that the vascular deficit also plays an important role in the pathogenesis and progressions of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. This issue is backed up by glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) cases drug compensated in which the progression of the disease in one or both eyes is ascertained despite a normal and relatively constant IOP.

Survey on retrobulbar blood flow in glaucomatous optic neuropathy (normotensive and hypertensive).

The aim of this study was to analyze the possible differences between retrobulbar blood flows in normotensive glaucomatous optic neuropathy patients versus patients with hypertensive glaucomatous optic neuropathy, with intraocular pressure controlled treatment. All the patients in the study group were subjected to a color Doppler echography of retrobulbar vessels. Afterwards, systolic and diastolic blood velocities were measured in both eyes in ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA) and posterior ciliary arteries (PCA).