Intraocular Pressure Reduction Is Associated with Reduced Venous Pulsation Pressure

Abstract

PurposeTo explore whether alterations in intraocular pressure (IOP) affect vein pulsation properties using ophthalmodynamometric measures of vein pulsation pressure.Patients and MethodsGlaucoma patients had two retinal vein pulsation pressure (VPP) measurements from upper and lower hemiveins performed by ophthalmodynamometry at least 3 months apart. All subjects had VPP and IOP recorded at two visits, with standard automated perimetry, central corneal thickness (CCT) recorded at the initial visit. Where venous pulsation was spontaneous ophthalmodynamometry could not be performed and VPP was considered equal to IOP. Change in VPP was calculated and binarized with reduction in pressure scored 1 and no change or increase scored as 0. Data analysis used a mixed logistic regression model with change in VPP as response variable and change in IOP, visual field loss (mean deviation), CCT and time interval as explanatory variables.Results31 subjects (20 females) with mean age 60 years (sd 11) were examined with change in VPP being significantly associated with change in IOP (odds ratio 1.6/mmHg, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.1 in the glaucoma patients but not suspect patients (p = 0.0005).ConclusionChange in VPP is strongly associated with change in IOP such that a reduced intraocular pressure is associated with a subsequent reduction in VPP. This indicates that reduced IOP alters some retinal vein properties however the nature and time course of these changes is not known.

Factors Influencing Lamina Cribrosa Microcapillary Hemodynamics and Oxygen Concentrations

“…This result is reasonable, as the aforementioned changes in pressure will reduce the overall perfusion pressure of the LC. It has also been shown that both an increase in central venous pressure and a decrease in arterial pressure are risk factors for the development of OAG, [49][50][51][52] and our result suggests that changes in blood pressure can significantly impact LC hemodynamics and potentially contribute to OAG progression.…”

Measurement of the retinal venous pressure with a new instrument in patients with primary open angle glaucoma

“…A couple of studies have been conducted by using the CLD [ 13 , 25 – 32 ]. The very high concordance correlation coefficient according to Lin of 0.96 makes it possible to compare the results of the mentioned earlier studies with future results obtained by the IOPstim taking into account that the IOPstim values are 1 mm lower than with the CLD method.…”