Effect of decreased ocular perfusion pressure on iris blood flow measured by laser Doppler flowmetry

Abstract

To determine whether iris blood flow (IBF) is regulated in response to an acute decrease in mean ocular perfusion pressure (PPm = MOAP-IOP, MOAP = mean ophthalmic arterial pressure) induced by increasing the intraocular pressure (IOP). Iris blood flow was measured using a slit lamp incorporating a laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) module. The study was conducted on 12 normal volunteers (14 to 59 years old). IOP was raised using a scleral suction cup. In Exp. #1, the suction pressure was successively raised in steps of 50 to 100 mm Hg, each lasting about 10 sec, until IOP reached the MOAP level. In Exp. #2, the suction was raised to 200 mm Hg in 4 successive steps of 2 min duration. In Exp. #1, no significant change of IBF was observed for small decreases of PPm (< 23%); greater decreases of PPm resulted in a linear IBF decrease (p < 0.01). In Exp. #2, such a IBF versus PPm decrease was also observed (p < 0.001). Immediately after release of suction, a significant, transient IBF increase of 79% above baseline level was observed. These results suggest that some IBF regulation occurs for small PPm decreases (< 23%); no IBF compensatory mechanism appears to operate for further decreases of PPm (> 23%).