Colour Doppler Imaging of Ocular and Orbital Blood Vessels in Retinal Diseases

Abstract

Colour Doppler imaging (CDI) is an established method for investigation of the ocular and orbital blood flow characteristics. It has been employed for assessment of blood flow parameters in a number of studies that investigated retinal diseases, including vascular pathology, degenerations, dystrophies, tumours, retinal detachment, etc. Decreased retrobulbar blood flow velocity in the central retinal and the short posterior ciliary artery has been reported in diabetic retinopathy. Reduced blood flow velocity in the central retinal artery and vein was also reported in patients with central retinal artery and vein occlusion. In exudative age-related macular degeneration there was an irregular blood flow in the retrobulbar short posterior ciliary arteries that was suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of the disease. In addition to research, CDI has also been reported as a valuable tool for the clinical management of retinal diseases.