Microstructural alterations of the retinal arterial blood column along the vessel axis in healthy volunteers with age

Purpose We demonstrated previously that roughness of the retinal arterial blood column measured along the vessel axis increases in anamnestically healthy volunteers with increasing age. We termed it longitudinal retinal arterial profile (LAP). Whether LAP is altered with age in medically supervised healthy persons is investigated. Methods 82 medically healthy volunteers were examined by Dynamic Vessel Analyzer (IMEDOS, Jena, Germany) using stimulation with flickering light. 3 age groups were formed: young (N=27, 30,5±4,3 years), middle age (N=28, 42,3±3,3 years) and seniors (N=27, 64,0±5,0 years). Included in the analysis were volunteers without medical vascular risk factors defined as: blood pressure 35 mg/dl, LDL < 190 mg/dl and glucose levels < 110 mg/dl. Retinal arterial diameters were measured along 1 mm vessel segments to obtain LAP. Differences were analyzed using Fourier transformation. Results In all age groups LAP do not change during all stages of the arterial response. Arterial diameters in the senior group were reduced in comparison to the young group at all stages of the vessel reaction (p<0,05). There are differences in LAP between the age groups. Compared to young persons, seniors showed significantly diminished waves with a period of 417 µm at all stages of the arterial reaction, whereas young volunteers showed less pronounced waves with a period of 208 µm (p<0,05). Conclusion Our results represent the healthy aging process in retinal vasculature. Age related microstructural changes in longitudinal profiles of retinal arteries in medically healthy persons might be an indication for alterations in the vascular endothelium and smooth musculature.