Association Between Laser Interferometric Measurement of Fundus Pulsation and Pneumotonometric Measurement of Pulsatile Ocular Blood Flow in Patients With Age-related Macular Degeneration

Medical University of Vienna

Status: Completed

Conditions: Age-related Macular Degeneration

Treatments: Procedure: blood flow measurement

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00991666

OPHT-200401

Details and patient eligibility

About

Several methods have been proposed for the measurement of pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF). The pneumatic tonometer, which is commercially available, assesses POBF by measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) changes during the cardiac cycle. The investigators have recently developed a method for the measurement of ocular fundus pulsation, which is based on laser interferometry. In contrast to the Langham system the method is non-contractile and yields a high topographic resolution. Moreover, the pneumatic tonometer assesses the ocular pressure pulse, whereas ocular fundus pulsation is a point measure of the ocular volume pulse. These two parameters are related by the ocular rigidity, which refers to the mechanical properties of the eye coats.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of blindness in the industrialized nations. The mechanisms behind this severe eye disease are, however, still obscure. It has been hypothesized that alterations in choroidal blood flow and ocular rigidity may contribute to the development and progression of AMD. However, there is currently little data to confirm this hypothesis. The present study is an attempt to investigate choroidal blood flow and ocular rigidity by employing laser interferometric measurement of fundus pulsation and pneumotonometric measurement of fundus pulsation.

Enrollment: 100 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 90 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Patients with AMD (defined as soft drusen > 63 µm, hyperpigmentation and/or hypopigmentation of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), RPE and associated neurosensory detachment, (peri)retinal hemorrhages, geographic atrophy of the RPE, or (peri)retinal fibrous scarring)
• Age between 50 and 90 years

Exclusion criteria

• Evidence of any other retinal or choroidal vascular disease
• Regular use of pentoxifylline in the last month before the trial period
• Evidence of a choroidal neovascular membrane
• Diabetes mellitus

Trial design

Primary purpose: Basic Science

Allocation: Non-Randomized

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

---

100 participants in 2 patient groups

1

Experimental group

Description:

AMD Patients

Treatment:

Procedure: blood flow measurement

2

Active Comparator group

Description:

healthy controls

Treatment:

Procedure: blood flow measurement