Age dependence of choroidal blood flow

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the age dependence of choroidal blood flow. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Vienna University. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 130 healthy volunteers between the ages of 19 and 83 years. MEASUREMENTS: Fundus pulsation amplitude (FPA) with a recently developed laser interferometric method, mean arterial pressure (MAP) with an automated oscillometric device, intraocular pressure (IOP) with an applanation tonometer, and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) as calculated from MAP and IOP. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation of FPA with age r = -0.242 (P =.005). MAP, IOP, and OPP showed a significant positive correlation with age. Multiple regression analysis showed that FPA is associated with age but not with MAP, IOP, or OPP. CONCLUSION: Choroidal blood flow is reduced in older subjects, which argues in favor of an increase in ocular vascular resistance with age. This may be a risk factor in the development of common ocular diseases such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma.