British Journal ofOphthalmology, 1991,75,466-470
466
Pulsatile ocular blood flow in patients with low tension glaucoma C B James, S E Smith
Division of Pharmacological Sciences and Toxicology,
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH C B James S E Smith Correspondence to:
Mr C B James, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH Accepted for publication 27 December 1990
reduced response of peripheral blood flow to Abstract Measurements of the intraocular pressure cold,7 and a reduced compliance of the optic (IOP) pulse and pulsatile ocular blood flow nerve head to a raised IOP measured by the (POBF) have been made in 22 patients with visual evoked response' have also been reported. bilateral low tension glaucoma (LTG) and 29 Schulzer et al have recently suggested that in healthy subjects matched as closely as possible both LTG and COAG there may be two groups for age, refractive error, IOP, systemic pulse of patients - one with predominantly IOP related pressure, and heart rate. Recordings were disease and one with vascular disease.' These made in both the standing and supine posi- observations lend further corroboration to the tions. The amplitude of the intraocular pres- theory that reduced perfusion, however caused, sure pulse was significantly lower in patients is at least a factor in the pathogenesis of LTG. with LTG (1.2, SEM 0.1 mmHg standing, and Clinically assessment of blood flow in the eye 1-3, SEM 0.1 mmHg lying) than in healthy and optic disc has depended on the analysis of subjects (1.9, SEM 0-1 mmHg standing, and fluorescein angiograms. In both COAG and 2-0 SEM 0.1 mmlg lying): p
466
Pulsatile ocular blood flow in patients with low tension glaucoma C B James, S E Smith
Division of Pharmacological Sciences and Toxicology,
United Medical and Dental Schools of Guy's and St Thomas's Hospitals, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH C B James S E Smith Correspondence to:
Mr C B James, Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St Thomas's Hospital, London SEI 7EH Accepted for publication 27 December 1990
reduced response of peripheral blood flow to Abstract Measurements of the intraocular pressure cold,7 and a reduced compliance of the optic (IOP) pulse and pulsatile ocular blood flow nerve head to a raised IOP measured by the (POBF) have been made in 22 patients with visual evoked response' have also been reported. bilateral low tension glaucoma (LTG) and 29 Schulzer et al have recently suggested that in healthy subjects matched as closely as possible both LTG and COAG there may be two groups for age, refractive error, IOP, systemic pulse of patients - one with predominantly IOP related pressure, and heart rate. Recordings were disease and one with vascular disease.' These made in both the standing and supine posi- observations lend further corroboration to the tions. The amplitude of the intraocular pres- theory that reduced perfusion, however caused, sure pulse was significantly lower in patients is at least a factor in the pathogenesis of LTG. with LTG (1.2, SEM 0.1 mmHg standing, and Clinically assessment of blood flow in the eye 1-3, SEM 0.1 mmHg lying) than in healthy and optic disc has depended on the analysis of subjects (1.9, SEM 0-1 mmHg standing, and fluorescein angiograms. In both COAG and 2-0 SEM 0.1 mmlg lying): p
