[Life expectancy of patients with circulatory disorders of the posterior eyeball segment].

Based on the method of person-years, the morality rate of 155 patients with circulatory disorders was calculated and compared with the death rate of an age-matched general population. No excess mortality was found among 53 patients with central retinal vein occlusion and among 58 patients with ischemic optic neuropathy. On the other hand, 44 patients with central retinal or branch artery occlusion showed a statistically significant increased mortality rate. Patients with arterial circulatory disorders were subdivided into hypertensives and normotensives; an increased mortality rate was seen only among patients with hypertension but not among patients with normal blood pressure. Hypertension is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors. The increased mortality risk among our patients with hypertension may be indicative of a progressive atherosclerosis.