The ophthalmic artery (OA) is a main branch of the internal carotid artery (ICA).Severe internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion may not only affect the blood supply to the brain,but may also cause OA insufficiency,leading to ocular ischemia.Therefore,research on the hemodynamic changes in the OA in patients with ICA stenosis or occlusion has increasingly attracted more ophthalmologists' attention.1 Transcranial Doppler (TCD)is simple and noninvasive,has been widely used in the inspection of cerebrovascular disease,and allows for judgment of the degree of stenosis of the intracranial and extracranial vessels and collateral compensatory circumstances.2 However,there are few reports on assessment of the blood supply characteristics of the OA by TCD.This study was performed to observe the blood flow spectrum changes of the OA in patients with severe ICA stenosis or occlusion through TCD examination to clarify the blood supply of the OA and explore the clinical value of TCD in ophthalmology.
The ophthalmic artery (OA) is a main branch of the internal carotid artery (ICA). Severe internal carotidartery stenosis or occlusion may not only affect the blood supply to the brain, but may also cause OA insufficiency, leading to ocular ischemia. Therefore, research on the hemodynamic changes in the OA in patients with ICA stenosis or occlusion has increasingly attracted more ophthalmologists' attention.1 Transcranial Doppler (TCD) is simple and noninvasive, has been widely used in the inspection of cerebrovascular disease,