Retinal Circulation After Carotid Artery Revascularization

Abstract

Doubts still exist concerning the mechanisms involved in ocular ischemic syndrome (OIS) and its dependence on carotid disease. We report findings from 14 surgical patients undergoing carotid artery reconstruction for symptomatic cerebrovascular disease. All of them had fluorescein angiography (FA) of the eye ipsilateral to the carotid operation before surgery and 3 months after to provide information regarding retinal circulation time. Before the surgical procedure, the mean circulation time was 29.4 ± 9.4 seconds (CI 95%: 24.5-34.3). After 3 months, a significant (P < .001) decrease in the circulation time was observed: 18.9 ± 8.4 seconds (CI 95%: 14.5-23.4). The present series demonstrates that carotid revascularization surgery improved retinal flow in approximately 80% of the patients.