Morphometric Age-related Evaluation Of Small Retinal Vessels By Scanning Laser Doppler Flowmetry: Determination of a Vessel Wall Index

Background: Measurement of the retinal vessel wall thickness may contribute to the diagnosis of microvascular diseases. We present a methodical approach to calculate these alterations and to determine age-related differences. Methods: One hundred fifty-three subjects without eye or internal diseases (mean age ± SD, 47.6 ± 14.9 years) underwent measurement of the retinal temporal superior artery and vein by scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (Heidelberg retina flowmeter). We calculated the difference between the diameter of reflectivity and the Doppler signal (Δ[VD-FD]/2) and determined a “vessel wall index” (VWI) by normalization of Δ(VD-FD)/2 for age and vessel diameter. Results: Δ(VD-FD)/2 correlated with vessel diameter (artery, r = +0.60, P Conclusion: In a group of subjects aged 21 years to 70 years, we detected an increase of Δ(VD-FD)/2 in the retinal temporal superior artery and vein with age.