This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Reply to article  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (42)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Aging/ Geriatrics  • Alert me on articles by topic

Juan E. Grunwald, MD; Seenu M. Hariprasad; Joan DuPont

Arch Ophthalmol. 1998;116:150-154.

Objective  To determine the effect of aging on choroidal blood flow (ChBFlow) in the foveolar region of the normal ocular fundus.

Method  Choroidal blood flow was determined using laser Doppler flowmetry. Twenty-nine eyes of 29 normal subjects whose ages ranged from 15 to 76 years (mean±SD, 42±18 years) were included in this study. Relative choroidal blood velocity (ChBVel), choroidal blood volume (ChBVol), and ChBFlow were determined in the foveolar region by asking the subjects to fixate on the probing laser beam.

Results  Significant negative correlations were observed between ChBVol and the subject's age (R=-0.52, P=.004) and between ChBFlow and the subject's age (R=-0.54, P=.003). No significant correlation was detected between ChBVel and the subject's age (R=0.07, P=.70). Significant differences were observed in ChBVol and ChBFlow between the younger subjects aged 15 to 45 years (mean±SD, 0.48±0.20 arbitrary units [AU] and 18.9±5.8 AU, respectively) and the older ones aged 46 to 76 years (mean±SD, 0.34±0.11 AU and 13.3±3.3 AU, respectively; unpaired Student t test, P=.04 and P=.007, respectively).

Conclusion  In the subjects studied, foveolar ChBFlow decreases with age. This change is probably related to the decrease in density and diameter of the choriocapillaries that occurs with increasing age.

From the Department of Ophthalmology, Scheie Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. The authors have no proprietary interest related to this article.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Autologous Transplantation of RPE with Partial-Thickness Choroid after Mechanical Debridement of Bruch Membrane in the Rabbit
Hu et al.
IOVS 2008;49:3185-3192.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Normal Aging Involves Altered Expression of Growth Factors in the Rat Choroid
Steinle et al.
J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci. 2008;63:135-140.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Foveolar Choroidal Circulation and Choroidal Neovascularization in Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Metelitsina et al.
IOVS 2008;49:358-363.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Age-Related Decline in VIP-Positive Parasympathetic Nerve Fibers in the Human Submacular Choroid
Jablonski et al.
IOVS 2007;48:479-485.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Near-infrared autofluorescence imaging of the fundus: visualization of ocular melanin.
Keilhauer and Delori
IOVS 2006;47:3556-3564.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Regulation of subfoveal choroidal blood flow in age-related macular degeneration.
Pournaras et al.
IOVS 2006;47:1581-1586.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Early supernormal retinal oxygenation response in patients with diabetes.
Trick et al.
IOVS 2006;47:1612-1619.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of systemic hypertension on foveolar choroidal blood flow in age related macular degeneration.
Metelitsina et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2006;90:342-346.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effects of Scleral Buckling Without Encircling Procedures on Retrobulbar Hemodynamics as Measured by Color Doppler Imaging
Ito et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2005;123:950-953.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Effect of Age on Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow
Boehm et al.
IOVS 2005;46:1291-1295.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reduced Foveolar Choroidal Blood Flow in Eyes with Increasing AMD Severity
Grunwald et al.
IOVS 2005;46:1033-1038.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Differences in Pulsatile Ocular Blood Flow among Three Classifications of Diabetic Retinopathy
Savage et al.
IOVS 2004;45:4504-4509.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of hypertension on foveolar choroidal haemodynamics
Niknam et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2004;88:1263-1265.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Effect of laser treatment for dry age related macular degeneration on foveolar choroidal haemodynamics
Figueroa et al.
Br. J. Ophthalmol. 2004;88:792-795.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Current Concepts in the Pathogenesis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Zarbin
Arch Ophthalmol 2004;122:598-614.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Influence of Photodynamic Therapy on Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), VEGF Receptor 3, and Pigment Epithelium-Derived Factor
Schmidt-Erfurth et al.
IOVS 2003;44:4473-4480.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Choroidal Vascular Reaction to Hand-Grip Stress in Subjects with Vasospasm and Its Relevance in Glaucoma
Gugleta et al.
IOVS 2003;44:1573-1580.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Quantifying Changes in RPE and Choroidal Vasculature in Eyes with Age-Related Macular Degeneration
McLeod et al.
IOVS 2002;43:1986-1993.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Reliability of Confocal Choroidal Laser Doppler Flowmetry
Gugleta et al.
IOVS 2002;43:723-728.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Age-Related Maculopathy in a Randomized Trial of Low-Dose Aspirin Among US Physicians
Christen et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1143-1149.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Choroidal Laser Doppler Flowmetry in Healthy Subjects
Straubhaar et al.
Arch Ophthalmol 2000;118:211-215.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT