Measurement of collateral cerebral hemispheric blood pressure by ocular pneumoplethysmography.

A new technic of ocular pneumoplethysmorgraphy for the simultaneous determination of blood pressures in the ophthalmic artery branches of the internal carotid arteries is described. It provides a noninvasive, atraumatic method for assessing hemispheric blood flow. When performed with simultaneous carotid compression, it provides a means for assessing the availability of collateral blood flow to the ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere. Clinical applications related to carotid artery disease and carotid artery surgery are discussed.