Background Ocular blood flow provides a new perspective for studying the effects of diabetes and ischemic heart disease on systemic blood flow, pathological mechanisms, and prognosis. Previous studies have analyzed the hemodynamic changes of the ophthalmic artery (OA) in patients with diabetes and ischemic heart disease, but the results remain controversial due to limited observation methods. We aimed to explore the morphological and hemodynamic features in the OA in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with and without acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods In total, 134 participants, including 30 control participants, 34 with ACS only, 34 with T2D only, and 36 with both ACS and T2D, undergoing computed tomography angiography were enrolled. Three-dimensional OA models were reconstructed, and morphological parameters of the OA were measured. In addition, numerical simulations using computational fluid dynamics were used to acquire hemodynamic parameters of the OA. Results In this study, 134 OA models were reconstructed. Morphological measurements revealed a smaller initial OA diameter in the T2D group than in the other two ACS groups. A hemodynamic simulation showed a significantly lower OA blood velocity in patients with ACS and T2D than that in controls (P < 0.001). The mass flow ratios in all disease groups were lower than those in the control group (P < 0.001, P = 0.020, and P < 0.001, respectively). The ACS and T2D groups had higher OA pressure levels than those of the control group (P = 0.013). The OA blood velocity and mass flow ratio were correlated with several clinical parameters. Conclusions This study revealed morphological and hemodynamic differences in the OA between patients with T2D with and without ACS. Furthermore, the hemodynamic characteristics of the OA correlated with clinical prognostic biomarkers, suggesting the potential predictive ability of the OA.

Background Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a systemic disease, affecting not only the brain, but also eyes and other organs. The total CSVD score is a tool for comprehensive evaluation of brain lesions in patients with CSVD. The ophthalmic artery (OA) is a direct response to ocular blood flow. However, little is known about the correlation between CSVD and characteristics of OA. We investigated the OA morphologies and hemodynamics in patients with CSVD and the correlation between these changes and the total CSVD score. Methods This cross-sectional observational study included 34 eyes from 22 patients with CSVD and 10 eyes from 5 healthy controls. The total CSVD score was rated according to the CSVD signs on magnetic resonance imaging. OA morphological characteristics were measured on the basis of 3D OA model reconstruction. OA hemodynamic information was calculated using computational fluid dynamics simulations. Results The total CSVD score negatively correlated with the OA diameter, blood flow velocity, and mass flow ratio (all P < 0.05). After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the total CSVD score was still independently correlated with the OA blood velocity (β = − 0.202, P = 0.005). The total CSVD score was not correlated with OA angle (P > 0.05). The presence of cerebral microbleeds and enlarged perivascular spaces was correlated with the OA diameter (both P < 0.01), while the lacunar infarcts and white matter hyperintensities were correlated with the OA blood velocity (both P < 0.001). Conclusions The decrease of the blood velocity in the OA was associated with the increase in the total CSVD score. The changes of the OA diameter and velocity were associated with the presence of various CSVD signs. The findings suggest that more studies are needed in the future to evaluate CSVD by observing the morphologies and hemodynamics of OA.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between optic disc deformation and retinal vasculature in high myopia.Methods: One hundred and thirty eyes with non-pathological high myopia were included in this cross-sectional study. The optic disc tilt ratio, and horizontal and vertical disc diameters were analyzed using fundus color photography. A 3 × 3 mm2 grid and a 4.5 × 4.5 mm2 grid were used to scan parafoveal and peripapillary regions, respectively, using optical coherence tomography angiography. Vessel flow density (VFD) and fractal dimension of the retina and the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) were analyzed and quantified using en face projection images. Optic disc parameters that were associated with vascular changes were determined using multiple linear regression analysis.Results: Results from the multivariate analysis revealed that the tilt ratio (β = -2.291, p = 0.025) was negatively correlated with three sectors in the deep layer. Age was negatively correlated with the VFD of the retina (β = -2.161; p < 0.034). Additionally, FAZ was not significantly correlated with any factors in the current study. Further, there was a positive correlation between retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and VFD of the optic nerve head (β = -2.146, p = 0.035).Conclusions: Overall, our results demonstrated that optic disc deformation was negatively correlated with the retinal microvasculature in non-pathological high myopia. Therefore, optic disc deformation may be used to predict the retinal vasculature in high myopia.