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Decreased blood flow at neuroretinal rim of optic nerve head corresponds with visual field deficit in eyes with normal tension glaucoma

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Abstract

Purpose

To determine the relationship between the blood flow parameters of the optic disc rim and the glaucomatous visual field changes.

Design

Observational cross-sectional study.

Methods

Tissue blood flow in the neuroretinal rim within the optic disc was determined with the Heidelberg retina flowmeter(HRF) in 54 eyes of 54 patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG). Patients were selected whose visual field defects were confined to either the superior or inferior hemifield. Blood flow measurements were made in a 10°×2.5° area of the superior and inferior neuroretinal rim within the optic disc. The mean blood flow (MBF) was calculated by the automatic full-field perfusion image analyzer program, and the ratio of the MBF in the superior to the inferior rim areas (the S/I ratio) was calculated from the same HRF image in order to minimize the variation of measurement condition.

Results

Inferior rim blood flow is less than superior rim blood flow in patients with superior hemifield defect, and superior rim blood flow is reduced compared to inferior in patients with inferior hemifield defect. The mean S/I ratios of the MBF in the patients with superior hemifield defect (1.46, n=37) was significantly higher than that in the patients with inferior hemifield defect (0.79, n=17; P<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test).

Conclusions

The blood flow in the neuroretinal rim was found to correspond to the regional visual field defect in eyes with NTG. Reductions in flow were associated with reductions in function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan

    Enrique Adan Sato, Yuichiro Ohtake, Kei Shinoda, Yukihiko Mashima & Itaru Kimura

  2. Laboratory of Visual Physiology, National Institute of Sensory Organs, Tokyo, Japan

    Kei Shinoda

Authors
  1. Enrique Adan Sato
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  2. Yuichiro Ohtake
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  3. Kei Shinoda
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  4. Yukihiko Mashima
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  5. Itaru Kimura
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Itaru Kimura.

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Sato, E.A., Ohtake, Y., Shinoda, K. et al. Decreased blood flow at neuroretinal rim of optic nerve head corresponds with visual field deficit in eyes with normal tension glaucoma. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmo 244, 795–801 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0177-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-005-0177-2

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