The Effect of Hypertension and Diabetes on Ophthalmic Artery Hemodynamics

Abstract

Objective: Hypertensive and diabetic patients are at higher risk of developing ocular complications. Color and spectral Doppler, as a noninvasive technique, can be used to monitor and access the ophthalmic artery (OA) and its hemodynamic characteristics. The aim of this study was to investigate the hemodynamics of OA in diabetes and hypertension. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Lahore sonography clinic. The patients were investigated using Toshiba Xario with 5 to 7.5 MHz linear transducer and the scanning was completed with closed eyelids. Those included in the study were hypertensive and diabetic patients. Exclusions were made based on a patient’s history of eye surgeries, trauma, inflammation, glaucoma, cataract, and pregnancy. Results: There were 200 patients recruited and of which, 41 were hypertensive and diabetic, whereas 159 were normal subjects. In this cohort, 41 patients (20%) were positive for hypertension and diabetes. There were 159 patients (79%) were negative for diabetes and hypertension. The resistive index (RI) of right OA was 0.783 ± 0.114 with 0.029. When considering the OA hemodynamics recorded, the pulsatility index (PI), the systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio, RI, and end diastolic velocity (EDV) were significantly correlated among those with hypertension and diabetes. In the normal subjects, all hemodynamic measurements were seen as normal, when compared to those with hypertension and diabetic. Conclusion: This cohort study may suggest that there is a pathological increase in vascular resistance, PI, S/D ratio, and decreased blood flow velocities, in ophthalmic artery, for those hypertensive and diabetic patients.