Effect of glaucoma and glaucoma risk factors on choroidal hemodynamics

Abstract

Purpose a) to determine subfoveal choroidal hemodynamics in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and patients with ocular hypertension (OH); b) to assess the effects of diabetes (DM), systemic hypertension (SHT) and myopia on subfoveal choroidal hemodynamics Methods Laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) was used to determine the subfoveal choroidal blood velocity (ChBVel), volume (ChBVol), and flow (ChBF) in 1) patients with POAG (n=85) and patients with OHT (n=25); 2) patients with glaucoma risk factors which were further subdivided into three subgroups; DM (n=93), SHT (n=57) and myopia (n=29) respectively. Subjects with each risk factor were further subdivided into two subgroups (without and with POAG), 3) age matched healthy controls (n=100). Results All LDF parameters were significantly reduced in all groups of patients compared with age matched controls. No statistically significant differences in the LDF parameters among HTG, NTG and OHT subgroups were detected. No significant difference in the LDF parameters between the two subgroup of each risk factor (without and with POAG) was noted.The LDF data of glaucomatous patients with risk factors demonstrated a significant reduction of ChBF and an increase in resistance in comparison to glaucomatous patients without risk factors Conclusion Subfoveal choroidal LDF parameters are reduced in subjects with POAG, OHT and patients with glaucoma risk factors, such as DM, SHT (under antihypertensive therapy) and myopia when compared with age matched healthy controls. However, the role of these choroidal circulatory alterations in the development or progression of the glaucomatous optic neuropathy remains to be clarified.