OCULAR BLOOD-FLOW VELOCITIES IN PATIENTS WITH PROLIFERATIVE DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY AND HEALTHY-VOLUNTEERS - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY

Background-Diabetes affects the vascular ocular circulation. Colour Doppler imaging allows for simultaneous two dimensional anatomical imaging and Doppler evaluation of blood flow velocity; with this technique ocular blood flow velocity can be evaluated in normal and diabetic patients. Methods-A prospective study compared blood flow velocity in (ophthalmic artery, arteries, central retinal vessels, and vortex veins) of 25 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 30 age matched normal subjects using a colour Doppler imaging unit (Toshiba Sonolayer SSA-270 A with a 5.0 MHz PLF-503 ST phased array scanning head). Results-The diabetic patients had lower blood velocities than the volunteers. There were significant differences in ophthalmic artery; systolic (p<0.01), diastolic (p<0.001), mean velocity (p<0.05), and central retinal artery; systolic (p<0.001), diastolic (p<0.001), mean velocity (p<0.05). No significant correlations were found between age and blood velocities. Conclusion-Ocular blood flow velocity was decreased in diabetic patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.