COMPARISON OF THE RETINAL BLOOD FLOW VELOCITY BETWEEN LASER SPECKLE FLOWGRAPHY AND THE RETINAL FUNCTION IMAGER.

PURPOSE

To compare the retinal blood flow velocity using laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) and a retinal function imager (RFI) in healthy Japanese subjects.

METHODS

This study included a total of 15 eyes of 15 healthy Japanese subjects (mean age, 41.7 ± 17.0 years). The retinal blood flow velocities were separately measured in arteries and veins around the optic disc using LSFG and an RFI. Linear regression analyses were used to analyze possible correlations of retinal blood flow velocities between the devices.

RESULTS

The average blood flow velocities using LSFG as the mean blur rate were 18.6 ± 4.8 in arteries and 18.3 ± 5.5 in veins. The average blood flow velocities using the RFI were 3.4 ± 1.1 mm/second in arteries and 2.9 ± 0.9 mm/second in veins. Although retinal blood flow velocities in arteries and veins using LSFG were nearly the same, there were statistical differences in retinal blood flow velocities between arteries and veins using the RFI (P = 0.701 using LSFG, P = 0.041 using the RFI). Significant correlations were found between LSFG and the RFI in arteries and veins (all, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

There were strong positive correlations in retinal blood flow velocities between LSFG and the RFI in healthy subjects.