Effect of a transient intraocular pressure increase caused by the use of a modified swimming goggles on retinal perfusion of patients with glaucoma

• Grant number: 19/26197-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2020
• End date: May 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Jayter Silva de Paula
• Grantee: Lucas Alvarez Rosa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil

Abstract

A growing body of evidence regarding the relationship between ocular vascular dysfunction and pathogenesis of glaucoma has been demonstrated by recent studies involving the use of Optical Coherence Tomography with Angiography (OCTA). The algorithms included in the OCTA devices permit the observation of the microcirculation in both the retina and the optic nerve head (ONH). Increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and other several factors have been variably associated with deformations of the ONH and lower retinal blood perfusion in patients with glaucoma. Considering the influence of local mechanical factors on the retinal microvasculature, which can be detected by OCTA, this study aims to verify potential vascular drops and retinal nerve fiber changes in healthy controls and patients with glaucoma both in normal conditions and also during a transient increase of the IOP with the use of a modified swimming goggles. This project of scientific initiation is a part of the regular project entitled ¨Correlation between variables related to the vascular and nervous tissues of the retina and optic nerve in glaucoma¨. Potential findings from this study will help to elucidate the pathophysiological relationships between mechanical events in the intraocular environment and the axonal loss in glaucoma. Besides, the results obtained may lead to the development of new diagnostic approaches for glaucoma.