Purpose: To observe the correlation between hemorrheology and arm-retinal filling time of fluorescein angiogaphy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.
Methods: The whole blood apparent viscosity in high (125 S-1), moderate (23 S-1) and low (1.2435 S-1) shear rates, plasma viscosity and hematocrit were measured in 50 cases (50 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma whose intraocular pressures were controlled. They also underwent fluorescein angiography. The duration from arm to retina arteria filling was named arm-retinal arteria filling time.
Results: There were positive correlation between the whole blood apparent viscosity in high and moderate shear rates, hematocrit and arm-retinal arteria filling time (P < 0.05-0.005). The higher blood viscosity, the longer arm-retinal arteria filling time.
Conclusion: The blood viscosity in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma can affect the arm-retinal arteria filling time of fluorescein angiography. So, the increasing blood viscosity in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma can reduce the blood supply to the optic disc.