Association of retinal capillary perfusion with visual status during chronic glaucoma therapy.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study is to determine whether retinal microcirculation is associated with the degree of visual function in glaucomatous eyes receiving chronic bilateral medical therapy with topical beta-blockers.

METHODS

A nonrandomized, 3-year prospective clinical study was undertaken on 37 patients with glaucoma and normal visual acuity receiving symmetric topical medication in both eyes. Humphrey 30-2, Henson CFA 2000, and Vistech 3 and 6 cycles/degree contrast sensitivity were obtained bilaterally at multiple visits, along with Oculix 1000 blue-field estimates of perimacular leukocyte velocity. The mean asymmetry of measurements obtained throughout the treatment period for each pair of eyes was determined, and correlations were obtained to assess visual function asymmetry circulatory asymmetry.

RESULTS

Significant associations were observed between blue-field entoptic capillary leukocyte velocity measurements and those for all three visual function testing methods, the eye with the superior vision typically having the higher mean leukocyte velocity (P < 0.001 for both Humphrey mean deviation and Henson perimetry, P < 0.002 for Humphrey corrected pattern standard deviation, and P < 0.02 for contrast sensitivity at both 3 and 6 cycles/degree).

CONCLUSIONS

Central retinal microcirculation is associated with various measures of central and peripheral visual function in glaucomatous eyes receiving beta-adrenergic blocker therapy.