The Effect of Trabeculectomy on Disc Tissue Blood Flow Across Quadrants in Open Angle Glaucoma.

PRÉCIS: Trabeculectomy increases tissue blood flow superior and temporal in the optic nerve head (ONH). Improvement of tissue blood flow superior and temporal in the optic nerve could be an indicator of the effectiveness of glaucoma treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate changes in tissue blood flow at the ONH before and after trabeculectomy.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This prospective study included 53 eyes who underwent trabeculectomy. The mean blur rate of the tissue area mean blur rate of the tissue area (MT) was determined using laser speckle flowgraphy preoperatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. MT, laser speckle flowgraphy waveform parameters [blowout score (BOS) and Resistivity Index (RI)], intraocular pressure (IOP), and ocular perfusion pressure (OPP) were analyzed preoperatively and at 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Postoperatively, IOP decreased (17.9±6.0-9.2±3.4 mm Hg) and OPP increased (43.3±9.2-52.1±6.4 mm Hg). As previously described, BOS increased (73.5±8.3-76.7±6.5; P < 0.001) with an inverse correlation to IOP and in proportion with OPP; RI decreased (0.40±0.1-0.35±0.08; P < 0.001) with an inverse correlation to OPP and in proportion to IOP. However, we found that MT increased significantly after surgery (7.9±2.2-8.8±2.2 AU; P = 0.002) without significant association between MT and IOP or OPP. In the 4 quadrants of the ONH, BOS significantly increased, while RI significantly decreased after surgery in all quadrants. In contrast, MT significantly increased in the superior and temporal quadrants only.

CONCLUSIONS

Blood flow increases in the superior and temporal ONH.