Abstract
Retinal abnaormalities were studies in 120 hypertensive patients using the method of fluorescence photography devised by Novotny and Alvis (1961), and the following results were obtained;
1) A more accurate observation of retina and vessels than the method using ophthalmoscope and color photogmphy was made by the fluorescence angiograms. The method proved to be most effective in detecting the soft exudates caused by increase in permeability and damage of arteriole walls. The soft exudates revealed by this method occur in many hypertensive patients with abnormal ECG.
Also, bleeding showed up as black and microaneurysm as white points, and new vessele are revealed in detail.
2) No conspicuous difference was obseved in the measurement of the caliber of artery and vein of a normal person either by color or fluorescein photography. The differences, however, become more distinct as copper wire artery and silver wire artery develop. The vessels we observe are columns of blood since the walls of blood vessels are transparent. According to the studies conducted by this method, however, it appears as though the fluoresein is coming through the endothels and depicting the walls of the vessels.
3) Fluorescein photographs were also taken at the time of elevation of blood pressure by means of cold pressor test and the decrease of blood pressure at the time of sodium nitrite test.
4) The arm-retina circulation time averaged 22seconds. Norelationship was found between the hypertension and arm-retina circulation time.
