Microcirculation in the conjunctiva and retina in healthy subjects

Abstract Background The aim was to determine the relationship between bulbar conjunctival microcirculation and retinal microcirculation in a healthy population. Method A functional slit-lamp biomicroscope (FSLB) was used to measure blood flow velocity (BFV) and blood flow rate (BFR) in the conjunctiva while a retinal function imager (RFI) was used to measure macular BFV and BFR in the retina. One eye of each subject of 58 self-reported healthy subjects was imaged in the same session on the same day. Results The mean BFV in the venules of the conjunctiva was 0.49 ± 0.13 mm/s, which was significantly slower than that in the retinal arterioles (3.71 ± 0.78 mm/s, P 0.05). Conclusion The microcirculation in the retina appeared to be different from that in the conjunctiva