Correlation between intra-ocular pressure and carotid artery pressure in glaucoma

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between carotid artery velocity and intraocular pressure (IOP) in advanced glaucoma patients.

METHODS: In this descriptive cross sectional study undertaken at the Institute of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital/ College of
Ophthalmology & Allied Vision Sciences from September to December 2021, 48 patients with advanced glaucoma and visual defects in
both eyes participated. All patients underwent carotid Doppler examinations to determine carotid artery velocities and pressure. IOP was measured in both eyes, and carotid Doppler, an ultrasonographic method, was used to measure the velocities of the right and left common and internal carotid arteries. The study's patients all had glaucomatous disc damage. The study's 10 patients all had systemic hypertension. Diabetes was known to affect 10 patients. 12 patients were already taking glaucoma medications. The IOP was determined using a contact tonometer. The normal intraocular pressure range is 10 to 21 mm Hg. People of different ages have different velocity scales. The carotid artery velocity and IOP correlations were investigated.

RESULTS: The study included 48 subjects. There were 50 percent males and 50 percent females of various ages. The correlation between carotid artery velocity and IOP was found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05) in the study. The average IOP for both eyes was 11 mm Hg, with a range of 11.0-45 mm Hg for the right eye and 11.0-45 mm Hg for the left. The average carotid artery velocity was 45.5 cm/s, with both the right and left arteries ranging from 25.5 to 60.5 cm/s.

CONCLUSION: This study suggests that there is no significant relationship between carotid artery velocity and IOP in advanced glaucoma patients.

KEYWORDS: IOP, Carotid artery velocity, Carotid Doppler, Tonometry, Glaucoma, Hypertension, Diabetes.