PURPOSE: Previous reports showed increased flow velocities in retrobulbar vessels after glaucoma surgery in the first weeks. Colour Doppler imaging was performed to investigate the long-term effects of trabeculectomy on retrobulbar haemodynamics in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: In a prospective study 30 patients (mean age 63.2 ± 15.4 years) with POAG were included. Colour Doppler imaging was performed before 1-2 weeks, after 2 months, after 4-6 months, and up to 3 years after trabeculectomy to determine the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and the short nasal and temporal posterior ciliary arteries. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 416 ± 246 days. In the first postsurgical period mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased after trabeculectomy from 25 ± 6 mmHg to 9 ± 4 mm Hg (p < 0.0001) and then increased in the further follow-up to 13 ± 3 mmHg (p < 0.05) without any anti-glaucomatous medication. Colour Doppler imaging revealed a significant increase of the end-diastolic velocities of the central retinal artery at all postoperative visits compared to pre-surgery (p < 0.003) and of the end-diastolic velocities in the temporal posterior ciliary arteries (p < 0.003). The change of blood flow parameters that increased during follow-up was significantly correlated to the change in ocular perfusion pressure and IOP. CONCLUSIONS: End-diastolic velocities of the central retinal artery and of the temporal posterior ciliary arteries increased after successful trabeculectomy and remained stable in a longer period - even if IOP rose significantly in the follow-up.
PURPOSE: Previous reports showed increased flow velocities in retrobulbar vessels after glaucoma surgery in the first weeks. Colour Doppler imaging was performed to investigate the long-term effects of trabeculectomy on retrobulbar haemodynamics in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). METHODS: In a prospective study 30 patients (mean age 63.2 ± 15.4 years) with POAG were included. Colour Doppler imaging was performed before 1-2 weeks, after 2 months, after 4-6 months, and up to 3 years after trabeculectomy to determine the peak systolic and end-diastolic velocities in the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and the short nasal and temporal posterior ciliary arteries. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 416 ± 246 days. In the first postsurgical period mean intraocular pressure (IOP) decreased after trabeculectomy from 25 ± 6 mmHg to 9 ± 4 mm Hg (p < 0.0001) and then increased in the further follow-up to 13 ± 3 mmHg (p < 0.05) without any anti-glaucomatous medication. Colour Doppler imaging revealed a significant increase of the end-diastolic velocities of the central retinal artery at all postoperative visits compared to pre-surgery (p < 0.003) and of the end-diastolic velocities in the temporal posterior ciliary arteries (p < 0.003). The change of blood flow parameters that increased during follow-up was significantly correlated to the change in ocular perfusion pressure and IOP. CONCLUSIONS: End-diastolic velocities of the central retinal artery and of the temporal posterior ciliary arteries increased after successful trabeculectomy and remained stable in a longer period - even if IOP rose significantly in the follow-up.
Authors: Tun Wang Ch'ng; Kevin Gillmann; Kirsten Hoskens; Harsha L Rao; André Mermoud; Kaweh Mansouri Journal: Eye (Lond) Date: 2019-08-13 Impact factor: 3.775