Effect of ageing on the retinal vascular responsiveness to flicker light in glaucoma patients and in ocular hypertension. Issue 7 (27th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gugleta, Konstantin; Türksever, Cengiz; Polunina, Anna; Orgül, Selim
• Is Part Of: British journal of ophthalmology. Volume 97:Issue 7(2013)
• Page Start: 848
• Page End: 851
• Publication Date: 2013-04-27
• Subjects: Glaucoma; Ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 617.7
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0007-1161

Abstract

Abstract : Aim: To evaluate the effect of ageing on the retinal vascular responsiveness to flicker light in glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT). Methods: Retinal vascular response to flicker was measured with the retinal vessel analyser in 56 healthy subjects (59±9 years), 50 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (60±10 years) and 46 OHT patients (62±9 years). In the glaucoma group, the less damaged eye; in the OHT group, the eye with the higher intraocular pressure; and in healthy controls, one randomly selected eye was considered. Parametric and non-parametric linear regression analysis, as well as a model of covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was used to evaluate the effect of age on the vascular response. Results: In all three groups (N=152) absolute (Pearson R: −0.19, p<0.019; Spearman R: −0.22, p<0.006) and relative change (Pearson R: −0.18, p<0.027; Spearman R: −0.21, p<0.010) were statistically associated with age. The ANCOVA showed no difference between the three groups in this regard (absolute change: p=0.43; relative change: p=0.51). Conclusions: Vascular responsiveness to flicker light decreases with age in healthy individuals, in glaucoma patients and in OHT patients. This effect seems to be comparable between the tested groups, and age-related change in vascular responsiveness to flicker light seems an unlikely risk factor for glaucoma.