The effect of a lower blood pressure on choroidal filling in age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE

To determine whether the occurrence of delayed choroidal filling or a slower foveal electroretinogram (ERG) implicit time is related to systemic blood pressure in patients with age-related macular degeneration.

METHODS

We assessed delayed choroidal filling by fluorescein angiography and foveal ERG implicit time with a hand-held stimulator-ophthalmoscope for the fellow eye of 67 patients with unilateral neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Blood pressure, measured by ascultation, was converted to mean arterial pressure. The relations of delayed choroidal filling and foveal ERG implicit time to the mean arterial pressure were assessed by logistic and linear regression, respectively, controlling for age, gender, and intake of hypertensive medication.

RESULTS

The probability of having delayed choroidal filling decreased with increasing mean arterial pressure (P = 0.01). The foveal ERG implicit time was also inversely related to the mean arterial pressure (P = 0.009).

CONCLUSION

Delayed choroidal filling and foveal ERG implicit time are related to blood pressure in patients with age-related macular degeneration.