Retrobulbar Blood Flow Parameters in Patients With Anisometropic Amblyopia

Introduction We aim to compare retrobulbar blood flow parameters between the amblyopic eye and the fellow eye in patients with anisometropic amblyopia. Methods Peak systolic velocity (PSV) and end-diastolic velocity (EDV) of the ophthalmic artery (OA), central retinal artery (CRA), and posterior ciliary artery (PCA) were measured by color Doppler imaging (CDI), and the resistivity index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) were calculated in 62 patients aged 12-40 years with anisometropic amblyopia. Results The mean PSV values of OA, CRA, and PCA in amblyopic and fellow eyes were 30.38 ± 10.34, 8.45 ± 2.27, and 8.03 ± 2.77, and 33.73 ± 14.46, 8.35 ± 2.05, and 8.81 ± 2.77, respectively. The mean EDV values of OA, CRA, and PCA in amblyopic and fellow eyes were 6.86 ± 2.64, 1.47 ± 1.59, and 1.94 ± 2.03, and 8.57 ± 4.30, 1.80 ± 1.73, and 2.32 ± 1.20, respectively. The mean RI values of OA, CRA, and PCA in amblyopic and fellow eyes were 0.77 ± 0.10, 0.85 ± 0.14, and 0.78 ± 0.15, and 0.75 ± 0.07, 0.79 ± 0.20, and 0.74 ± 0.13, respectively. OA-PSV and OA-EDV values were significantly lower in the amblyopic eye than in the healthy eye (p < 0.05). OA-RI values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the amblyopic eye than in the healthy eye. Conclusions Considering the decrease in PSV and EDV and the increase in RI, which are the blood flow parameters of the amblyopic eye, our study may provide guidance to focus on increasing blood flow in the treatment of amblyopia.