Ocular pneumoplethysmography: detection of carotid occlusive disease.

To determine the accuracy of ocular pneumoplethysmography (OPG-Gee) in detecting carotid arterial occlusive disease, 350 patients were tested by OPG-Gee. Sixty-three patients underwent angiography and the findings were correlated with the results of OPG-Gee tracings. Testing without carotid compression averaged three minutes and was easily performed by a physician or technician. There were no significant complications. Hypertension did not affect evaluation. There were two false-negative tests and no false-positive tests. Without carotid compression the overall accuracy for testing for significant arterial stenosis was 97%. When a carotid compression test was added, the two missed lesions were detected.