Ocular hemodynamics following suction cup oculopression

Abstract

In the study reported here the authors investigated the influence on ocular perfusion pressures of suction-cup oculopression, a procedure which permits oculopression without orbital compression. Patients over 50 years of age were examined before cataract extraction. Ulrich's method of ocular oscillodynamography was used to determine ocular perfusion pressures. A Mikuni and Yoneyama suction-cup dynamometer was applied for suction-cup oculopression. Ocular hypotonia following suction-cup oculopression was adequate and comparable to that achieved by other oculopression methods. After oculopression a significant increase in ocular perfusion pressures (retinal, ciliary, and diastolic) was found. However, ocular blood pressure remains constant after oculopression. Moreover, the increase in ocular perfusion pressure could not be explained by oculocardiac reflexes, because there was no change in systemic arterial blood pressure. It must be assumed, therefore, that the increase in ocular perfusion pressures is caused by a lowering of resistance, i.e., a drop in intraocular pressure.