A comparative control study of ophthalmic artery Doppler velocimetry in patients with primary open angle glaucoma in Kano, Nigeria

Objective: The objective of the study is to sonographically determine the hemodynamic changes in ophthalmic arteries of patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) at Kano, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: We conducted a prospective case–control study at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, on 108 newly diagnosed POAG and 108 control subjects. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and Doppler ultrasound velocimetry of ophthalmic arteries were assessed. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistive indices (RIs), pulsatility indices (PIs) and systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratios of the ophthalmic arteries were evaluated and documented. Results: The mean IOP values of POAG group in the right and left eyes were higher than the values of the right and left eyes of the control group. This was statistically significant (P = 0.000). The mean PSV, EDV, RI, PI, and S/D values in the POAG group of the right and left eyes were lower than values for the right and left eyes of the control group, which was also statistically significant (P = 0.000). The IOP showed positive correlation with PSV and EDV in both eyes of POAG cases but negative correlation with PI and S/D in both eyes in the POAG group. It however correlated positively with RI in the right eye and negatively with RI in the left eye. Conclusions: The study showed significant differences between ophthalmic artery Doppler indices of patients with POAG and the healthy control subjects.