Finger blood flow in patients with low tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma

Abstract

Finger blood flow was studied by means of laser Doppler flowmetry in 12 patients with low tension glaucoma (LTG), 12 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and 12 normal subjects. Baseline flow, flow after immersion of the hand in warm water (+40°C), and flow after exposure of the hand in cold water (+4°C) were measured. Statisticaily significant differences were not found in each flow between the three groups of the patients (p>0·05). Vasospastic response to warm and cold water was observed in 25% of LTG patients, 17% of POAG patients, and 25% of normal subjects. There was no significant difference between LTG, POAG, and normal subjects in finger blood flow.