Evaluating the hemodynamic alteration of ocular circulation in diabetic retinopathy with color doppler

Purpose: To measure blood flow velocity in the ocular circulation in patients with diabetic reinopathy.Material and Methods: In our study, we examined 40 patients and 20 healthy controls. Diabetic patients were divided into 2 groups according to the degree of diabetic retinopathy. Background diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopthy group in each group was present 20 cases.The range age of patients were in the 55-65 years. The groups, fasting blood glucose level, HbA1c level and cholesterol levels has maesurd. The peak systolic and end-diastolic blood flow velocities and resistivity indices of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery and posterior ciliary artery were measured in each eye, using color Doppler imaging. The parameters measured in the diabetic retinopathy were compared with those of the control group.Results: The mean peak systolic and end-diastolic blood flow velocity was lower and mean resistivity index was higher in the diabetic retinopthy than in the control group regarding the ophthalmic artery and posterior ciliary artery. In the diabetic retinopathy group, the mean peak systolic velocities were lower than those of the control group in the central retinal artery. No significant change in diastolic flow velocity was detected in the central retinal artery. RI was also increased.Conclusion: The increased vascular resistance and the changes in rheologic properties of blood account for the changes in retrobulber flow rates in diabetic retinopathy. We demonstrated the increased vascular resistance with increase in resistivity index in our study. In addition, disrupted auto regulation in diabetes also effects on retinal circulation.Diabetic retinopathy developed retrobulbar hemodynamics changes flow measurement with color Doppler ultrasound technique can be done.Key Words: Color Doppler Ultrasound, diabetic retinopathy, ocular circulation, resistivity index, HbA1c