Vascular Ophthalmopathies - An Interdisciplinary Task

Retinal microvascular function is highly depending on macrovascular circulation and especially on blood pressure variability and nocturnal blood pressure. The eyes are more subject to central hemodynamics compared to peripheral pressures. Pulse wave analysis is essential here and can reveal masked aortic hypertension. Morphological and functional changes of retinal vessels are detected today in high resolution by digital imaging techniques. Early hypertensive changes can be visualized best by laser scanning multi-color devices, and the vessel diameters (AV-Ratio) are measured precisely by static vessel analysis. Functional disorders of vascular motility are delineated reproducibly by devices for dynamic vessel analysis. Also functional effects of cardiovascular therapy measures can be judged by these means: micro- meets macrocirculation.