Retinal Arteriole Pulse Waveform Analysis Using a Fully-Automated Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography Flowmeter: a Pilot Study

PURPOSE: To evaluate the repeatability and reproducibility of the measurement of retinal arteriole pulse waveforms using a novel fully-automated Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) flowmeter in healthy subjects. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 20 healthy subjects were included to test the intrasession repeatability of pulse waveform analysis. DOCT measurements were performed based on a newly developed instantaneous Doppler angle measurement method. Upstroke time (UT), which is the time from the minimum to the maximum retinal blood velocity, and the resistance index (RI) of the retinal arteriole pulse waveform were measured. Coefficients of variation (CVs) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated. Interdevice reproducibility between two instruments was assessed in five eyes of five subjects. RESULTS: The mean UT was 130.3 ms (range, 110.1–152.1 ms), and the mean RI was 0.66 (range, 0.51–0.82). The respective ICCs of UT and the RI for the intrasession repeatability of assessment were 0.87 and 0.78. The respective CVs of UT and the RI were 6.6 ± 3.3% and 4.7 ± 2.1%. Regarding interdevice reproducibility, there were no significant differences between the measurements derived from the instruments (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Pulse waveform measurement in retinal arterioles using a fully-automated DOCT flowmeter exhibited good repeatability and interdevice reproducibility. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The above-described improved DOCT flowmeter system provides reasonably repeatable measurements of retinal arteriole pulse waveforms, potentially facilitating systemic-circulation abnormality monitoring. The examination of the circulation with the novel device can be potentially useful for evaluating systemic circulation.