What is the best method to evaluate retinal microcirculation?

The microvasculature of retinal ganglion cell layer, which is the part of central nervous system, can be investigated non-invasively in human. For clinical routine the fluorescence angiography is used to test patency and leak of retinal or choroid vessels, and to determine the blood passage time through the capillaries, but not to measure microperfusion. The first non-mydriatic Heidelberg Retina Flowmetry with Scanning Laser Doppler Flowmetry (SLDF) technology using perfusion image analysis software AFFPIA has enabled simultaneously reliable examination of retinal microperfusion (RCF) and arteriolar morphology (inner and outer vessel diameters) with calculation of wall-thickness, wall-to-lumen-ratio (WLR), mean distance between vessels with 10-20μm diameter, calculation of retinal microperfusion resistance coefficient by RCF and mean arterial pressure, and the estimation of changes of the parameters depends on heart pulsation.
Source: Artery Research - Category: Cardiology Authors: Source Type: research