Retrobulbar Blood Flow in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma after Trabeculectomy

Ocular blood flow can be used as a «diagnostic window» in the surgical treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma. The aim of this study is to investigate the parameters of retrobulbar blood flow in patients with POAG after trabeculectomy. The retrobulbar blood flow of 50 patients with an advanced stage of POAG was examined using a VOLUSON E8 device. The values of the peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, and resistive index in the retrobulbar vessels were analyzed one week before surgical treatment and 1.5 months after trabeculectomy. The study revealed statistically significant (p≤0.05) changes in retrobulbar blood flow parameters: an increase in the peak systolic velocity and end-diastolic velocity in the central retinal artery (CRA) and short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCA), and a decrease in the resistive index in the CRA and SPCA.The results of the study showed that trabeculectomy statistically significantly reduces intraocular pressure in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Concurrently, a significant improvement in retrobulbar blood flow parameters was recorded.