Comparison of Retinal Blood Flow Parameters in Sickle Cell Disease at Steady State and Healthy Subjects Using Doppler Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract

Background and objective: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a vascular disease that may affect the retina. This study aimed to evaluate differences in average velocity (AV, mm/s), blood flow (BF, μL/min) and vessel diameter (VD, μm) from the temporal retinal arcades in SCD compared to healthy eyes using Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT).

Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 2021 and 2023. The DOCT scan was located at the superior and inferior temporal vessel arcades of all subjects. Differences between the two groups were assessed.

Results: Thirty-nine healthy eyes and 36 SCD eyes were imaged. The median of AV, BF, and VD were 1.4, 2.5, and 1.3 times higher in SCD eyes compared to healthy eyes in the superotemporal arteries (P = 0.002, P = 5.0 × 10^-3, P = 4.0 × 10^-6, respectively). Similar findings were observed for superotemporal veins and inferotemporal veins.

Conclusion: Eyes with SCD eyes exhibited significantly elevated retinal vascular flow parameters compared to healthy eyes. [Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina 2025;56:220-227.].