Retinal capillary hemodynamics and VEP/pressure tolerance: evidence of retinal microcirculatory compromise in treated glaucomatous eyes.

PubMed ID: 9176898

Author(s): Sponsel WE, Zetlan SR, Stodtmeister R, Kaufman PL. Retinal capillary hemodynamics and VEP/pressure tolerance: evidence of retinal microcirculatory compromise in treated glaucomatous eyes. Ophthalmologica. 1997;211(3):172-7.

Journal: Ophthalmologica. Journal International D’ophtalmologie. International Journal Of Ophthalmology. Zeitschrift Fur Augenheilkunde, Volume 211, Issue 3, 1997

Measurements of retinal leukocyte velocity were made in single eyes of 6 glaucomatous adults and 9 normal subjects at each of 4 discrete levels of IOP elevation assigned according to the characteristics of prior pattern-evoked cortical potential pressure tolerance measurements. Glaucomatous eyes failed to demonstrate any stabilization in retinal leukocyte velocity at pressures above 45 mm Hg, with velocities 33% lower than normal for a comparable degree of IOP elevation (p < 0.012). Even at baseline IOP, leukocyte velocity was 27.2% slower in the treated glaucomatous eyes than in normal control eyes (p < or = 0.013), despite comparable baseline IOP levels in both groups.