· Background: A study was performed to evaluate the effect of isoxic hypercapnia on ocular haemodynamics using colour Doppler
imaging (CDI), scanning laser Doppler flowmetry (SLDF) and ocular blood flow (OBF) tonography. · Methods: Measurements were
taken for one eye of each of 14 healthy subjects (mean age 27±6 years) during breathing of room air and then during isoxic
hypercapnia (breathing CO
2 and room air). Using CDI, blood flow velocities and resistance indices were determined for the ophthalmic artery (OA), central
retinal artery (CRA) and short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs). Using SLDF, a 10×10 pixel frame was used to measure blood
flow, volume and velocity in each quadrant of the peripapillary retina. Pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) was measured using
the OBF tonograph. · Results: Using CDI, peak systolic and end diastolic velocities increased and resistance index decreased
significantly in the SPCAs during hypercapnia. Using SLDF, blood flow, volume and velocity increased significantly during
hypercapnia in the superior temporal quadrant of the peripapillary retina. No significant difference was observed between
baseline and hypercapnia for POBF. · Conclusions: Isoxic hypercapnia resulted in an increase in peripapillary retinal and
SPCA blood flow parameters as determined by SLDF and CDI respectively. This implies the presence of autoregulatory activity
in these vasculatures. These findings may be of significance in the pathogenesis of ocular disease such as glaucoma where
autoregulation is thought to be compromised.
Received: 10 February 1999 Revised version received: 6 May 1999 Accepted: 6 May 1999