Reproducibility of Pulsatile Ocular Blood Flow Measurement by OBF Tonograph

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the reproducibility of pulsatile ocular blood flow(POBF), bilateral POBFs of 10 volunteers were measured 3 times serially by OBF tonograph system(OBF laboratories, UK Ltd.). The POBFs were recorded in sitting position using pneumotonometer attached at slit lamp. After measurement of POBF, intraoculat pressure(IOP) was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Mean values of pulse amplitude(PA), pulse volume(PV), POBF, IOP were 2.0+/-0.4mmHg, 5.1+/-1.5microliter, 701+/-197microliter/min, 13.9+/-2.5mmHg, respectively. Average of standard deviation of POBF was 7.0+/-1.9%. Mean value of IOP using Goldmann applanation tonometry was 12.8+/-2.6mmHg. Coefficient of reliability of the repeated measurement of POBF was 83%, analyzed by intraclass correlation. Coefficient of variation of the repeated measurement of POBF was 5.2%. Linear regression analysis of the Goldmann applanation tonometer on the measurements of IOP witn the tonograph showed a regression coefficient of 0.91. In conclusion, reproducibility of POBF measurement by OBF tonograph was acceptable and compatible with conventional technique. Further studies are required to measure the POBF in glaucoma patients.