Microcirculation in the conjunctival capillaries of healthy and hypertensive patients.

To study the impact of hypertension on conjunctival circulation, one group of healthy individuals and three groups of hypertensive patients (different stages of disease) were examined. Each participant had to undergo videomicroscopy to determine erythrocyte velocity in conjunctival capillaries, reactive hyperaemia and the diameter of the erythrocyte column within the vessels. Compared to healthy subjects, erythrocyte velocity and the diameter of the erythrocyte column were markedly increased in hypertensive patients. Furthermore the normalization of the erythrocyte velocity after a period of hypoxia was impaired in the hypertensives. These results indicate that changes in microcirculation due to hypertension can be detected by video microscopy.