Author:
Kim Hyo Sin,Kim Da Ran,Yoon Young Chae,Yang Soon Won,Yoo Young Sik,Whang Woong Joo,Byun Yong-Soo,Hwang Hyung Bin,Na Kyung Sun,Lee Hyun Soo,Chung So Hyang,Kim Eun Chul,Cho Yang Kyung,Kim Hyun Seung,Hwang Ho Sik
Abstract
Purpose: To introduce an intuitive method for measuring conjunctival microvascular blood flow velocity by imaging bulbar conjunctival microvessels using a slit-lamp biomicroscope equipped with a zoom lens and an ultra-high-speed camera.Methods: After obtaining consent from 10 patients (1 male, 9 females) who visited Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital from August 21, 2020, to June 12, 2021, the patients were examined under a slit lamp microscope equipped with an ultra-high-speed camera and zoom lens. The blood flow in the conjunctival microvessels was photographed. The captured images were analyzed with ImageJ software to measure the blood flow velocity in the conjunctival microvessels, and we investigated whether the blood flow velocity correlated with the vessel diameter and age.Results: The median age of the subjects was 49.0 years. The mean conjunctival blood flow velocity in 53 microvessels was 0.786 ± 0.468 mm/s. The median conjunctival microvascular diameter was 7.06 μm (interquartile range 5.84 to 9.23 μm). The conjunctival microvascular diameter and blood flow velocity were not significantly correlated (Spearman’s <i>p</i> = 0.177), and the subjects’ age and conjunctival microvascular blood flow velocity were also not correlated (Spearman’s <i>p</i> = 0.669).Conclusions: In this study, the blood flow velocity in the bulbar conjunctival microvessels could be measured easily by means of image analysis using a slit-lamp microscope equipped with an ultra-high-speed camera with a zoom lens.
Funder
Korea Health Industry Development Institute
Ministry of Health and Welfare
National Research Foundation of Korea
Ministry of Education
Institute of Clinical Medicine Research of Yeouido St. Mary’s Hospital, Catholic University of Korea
Publisher
Korean Ophthalmological Society