COLOR DOPPLER IMAGING OF THE OCULAR VESSELS

Background: Color Doppler imaging allows for simultaneous two-dimensional anatomical imaging and Doppler evaluation of blood flow velocity. Methods: We examined 40 normal eyes (17 males and 23 females, aged 16 to 57 years) with this technique. The color Doppler unit used in this study had a 5.0-MHz PLF-503 ST phased-array scanning head. Each vessel examination was repeated 10 times during a single session. Results: The following peak flow velocities were found: central retinal artery, 12.5 +/- 2.4 cm/s; central retinal vein, 4.4 +/- 0.49 cm/s; posterior ciliary arteries, 14.4 +/- 2.6 cm/s; vorticose veins, 5.5 +/- 1.0 cm/s; ophthamic artery, 36.9 +/- 7.0 cm/s. Ophthalmic artery systolic and end-diastolic velocities declined as a function of age; however, these changes were not significant (systolic: r = -0.24; diastolic, r = -0.22). Conclusion: This noninvasive technique allows quantitative assessment of blood flow velocity in these vessels.