Comparison of colour Doppler imaging of orbital vessels in elderly compared with young adult patients.

PURPOSE: Colour Doppler imaging provides an estimate of the velocity of blood flow in vessels supplying the eye.

METHODS

To assess changes in orbital blood flow with age, we used a method to study peak systolic velocity in 20 young normal patients, mean age 25.2+/-2.4 years and 30 elderly normal patients, mean age 69.5+/-7.9 years.

RESULTS

Peak systolic velocity was significantly higher in the central retinal artery and the temporal division of the posterior ciliary artery in elderly patients. There was greater variation in the peak systolic velocity readings in the distal part of the ophthalmic artery in the elderly than in the younger group. There was greater variation in the pulsatility index in the central retinal artery in young subjects.

CONCLUSIONS

Though not large, these differences suggest changes in the orbital blood vessels with age which could affect the development of disease processes in elderly patients. These changes should be taken into account when assessing blood flow in elderly patients.