[Analysis of retinal vein motion in glaucoma patients]. / Analyse der Venenbewegungen in der Netzhaut von Glaukompatienten.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Analysis of retinal vein amplitude in eyes of glaucoma patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Motion of retinal veins was captured by Retinal Vessel Analyzer in duration of 30 seconds. Inferotemporal vein segments of 500 micrometers length in the immediate vicinity of, as well as away from the optic disc were chosen. Time behavior of the average segment diameter was analyzed by the self made software dominating frequency (heart rate) was determined by Fourier analysis, and based on this an average pulse form was produced. Difference between the highest and lowest diameter point was the subject of analysis in 25 eyes of 25 glaucoma patients and 25 age-sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Pulse amplitude of retinal veins in healthy eyes was higher than in glaucoma patients in the optic disc vicinity the pulse amplitude relative to baseline was 2.6 ± 2.1% in control eyes and 1.4 ± 0.8% in glaucoma eyes (t-test, p = 0.009). Away from the disc, it was 1.7 ± 1.0% and 1.1 ± 0.5% respectively (p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Retinal veins in glaucoma eyes demonstrate lower pulse amplitudes than healthy eyes, indicating disturbance in venous outflow and increased intraluminal venous pressure.