ROLE OF COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING IN PRIMARY OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Abstract

PURPOSE- To assess the blood flow velocity by color doppler imaging (CDI) of retrobulbar vessel in eyes with primary open angle glaucoma ( POAG) . A prospective case control study was done on 40 new METHOD- ly diagnosed POAG patients and 40 control patients with no clinical evidence of glaucoma. Color doppler imaging was performed by ultrasound machine using linear high frequency probe. The color doppler window was localized over the retrobulbar area and flow in the ophthalmic artery (OA) and central retinal artery (CRA) identified, Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and End diastolic velocity (EDV) values for both the vessels were obtained. Resistivity index (RI) was calculated as (PSV-EDV)/ PSV. The study sample consisted of 40 RESULT- patients in the POAG group and 40 patients in the control group. All the patients with POAG had raised RI and decreased EDV in both the OA and CRA. Also RI was raised in 45% patients with stable normal visual fields in POAG group. The increase in IOP in POAG group was negatively correlated with PSV and EDV and positively correlated with RI for both the OA and CRA. Despite normal visual fields, retrobulbar hemodynamic alterations CONCLUSIONcontribute to progression of glaucoma in early stage. Early diagnosis of glaucoma can be achieved by using CDIs of ocular blood flow, which enable early intervention to prevent progressive irreversible vision loss.