Synchronous determination of retinal circulation times in both eyes.

Retinal circulation times of 44 healthy subjects (88 eyes) were measured simultaneously on both eyes by means of synchronous bilateral fluorescein angiography. "Circulation time" was defined as the time from the first arterial filling to the first fluorescence of the corresponding vein close to the disc margin. We found 1.2 sec for the superior temporal vessels, 1.3 sec for the inferior temporal, 1.3 sec for the superior nasal, and 1.4 sec for the inferior nasal vessels of the right eye. For the left eye these values were 1.2 sec, 1.2 sec, 1.4 sec, and 1.4 sec, respectively. No significant differences between the 2 eyes were demonstrable. It is concluded therefore that in cases of monocular disturbances of retinal circulation the other eye can serve as a reliable standard when measurements are performed simultaneously on both sides. The many uncertainties of successive examinations caused by uncontrollable systemic circulation changes are thus eliminated.