Fluorescein angiographic correlation of focal narrowing of retinal arterioles in glaucoma

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Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent studies have shown that focal narrowing of retinal arterioles in the parapapillary region occurs in eyes with optic neuropathies such as glaucoma. This study evaluated whether these vessel constrictions detected ophthalmoscopically have an equivalent in angiographic imaging of the fundus. METHODS Fluorescein angiograms and colour wide angle fundus photographs of 33 patients with open angle glaucoma and 76 subjects with normal optic nerves were examined for focal narrowing of retinal arterioles. The angiograms had primarily been taken for other reasons such as age related macula degeneration. RESULTS All focal narrowings of retinal arterioles detected on fundus photographs showed a localised constriction of vessel filling in the fluorescein angiograms. Degree of vessel narrowing on the fundus photographs and degree of constriction of the fluorescein vessel filling were significantly (pCONCLUSIONS Focal narrowing of retinal arterioles in the parapapillary region of eyes with optic neuropathies represents a real stenosis of the vessel lumen and is not due to an ophthalmoscopic artefact.