Color Doppler Imaging Analysis of Retrobulbar Blood Flow Velocities in Diabetic Patients Without or With Retinopathy: A Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze hemodynamic changes in retrobulbar blood vessels using color Doppler imaging in diabetic patients without or with retinopathy.

METHODS: Pertinent publications were retrieved from 3 databases. Changes in peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and resistive index (RI) of the ophthalmic artery, central retinal artery, and short posterior ciliary artery of diabetic eyes without or with retinopathy and healthy controls were evaluated by color Doppler imaging. Comparisons were conducted in 3 groups: group 1, no retinopathy versus control; group 2, retinopathy versus control; and group 3, no retinopathy versus retinopathy.

RESULTS: In group 1, eyes without retinopathy had a significant increase in ophthalmic artery PSV (P = .002), with no heterogeneity (Pheterogeneity = 0.09; inconsistency index [I(2)] = 46%); however, significant reductions in central renal artery PSV and EDV were shown (P = .002; P = .007, respectively), with significant heterogeneity (Pheterogeneity < .00001; I(2) = 85%; Pheterogeneity = .008, I(2) = 68%). A significant increase in ophthalmic artery RI (P = .02) was found in eyes without retinopathy, with heterogeneity (Pheterogeneity = .0009; I(2) = 74%). In group 2, central retinal artery PSV and EDV in eyes with retinopathy decreased significantly (P < 0.00001). Similar results were found for ophthalmic and short posterior ciliary artery EDVs (P= .0003; P< .00001). Ophthalmic artery RI was significantly higher in eyes with retinopathy than controls (P = .0008), with heterogeneity (Pheterogeneity < .00001; I(2) = 84%). In group 3, ophthalmic artery PSV was lower in eyes with retinopathy (P= .04) than eyes without, and central retinal artery PSV and EDV decreased significantly (P = .004; P < .00001) in eyes with retinopathy compared to eyes without. Differences in ophthalmic and central retinal artery RIs were also found in eyes with retinopathy (P = .05; P < .00001).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in retrobulbar blood flow were found in eyes without and with diabetic retinopathy, especially those with retinopathy.