Ophthalmic artery blood flow velocity changes in diabetic patients as a manifestation of macroangiopathy.

PURPOSE: The hemodynamic characteristics of ophthalmic artery (OA) blood flow velocity in diabetic patients with ocular involvement were evaluated.

METHODS

Changes in OA blood flow of eyes with background diabetic retinopathy (BDR), proliferative retinopathy (PDR) and ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) were analyzed by Color Doppler imaging.

RESULTS

Patients with BDR and PDR had significantly lower diastolic and mean blood flow velocities and higher pulsatility indices compared to controls. Diabetic patients with OIS had significantly lower systolic, diastolic and mean anterograde OA blood flow velocities than the controls. Pulsatility indices were higher in anterograde OA blood flow measurements compared to controls. Systolic blood flow velocities in rubeotic eyes with OIS were significantly lower than in rubeotic eyes with PDR.

CONCLUSION

OA blood flow measurements by color doppler imaging may detect macroangiopathies in diabetic patients as manifested by carotid atheromas and arterio- and atherosclerosis of the OA and its branches.