Densitometric analysis of blood flow of the optic nerve head in glaucoma

In glaucoma the increased level of pressure within the eye results in atrophy of the optic nerve with loss in visual function. Impairment of the blood supply to the optic nerve by the increased pressure appears to be primarily responsible for the atrophy. Sequential photographs of the optic nerve head after an intravenous injection of fluorescein dye provide a detailed topography of its vascular system as a function of time. Densi- tometric techniques can be utilized as a means of objective analysis and measurement to separate normal vascular patterns from those of the glaucomatous patient. Techniques for the analysis of peak times, circulation times, intensity ratios and flow rates are described in normal and glaucomatous optic nerve heads.