A comparison of colour Doppler imaging of orbital vessels and other methods of blood flow assessment.

BACKGROUND

Comparison of the haemodynamic measurements obtained by colour Doppler imaging and other methods of ocular blood flow measurements was desired.

METHODS

The blood velocity findings from colour Doppler imaging of patients with central retinal vein occlusion were compared to the results of fluorescein video-angiography, continuous tonography and ophthalmodynamometry.

RESULTS

Patients with low or undetectable blood velocities in the central retinal vein had longer retinal dye transit times on fluorescein video-angiography. Tonography showed a positive correlation with the velocities in the ophthalmic artery, but ophthalmodynamometry showed a negative correlation with these velocities.

CONCLUSION

The relationships between the blood velocities in orbital vessels and other blood flow measurements emphasise that there is a complex interaction of the blood flow parameters. Care must therefore be taken when interpreting the results of studies.