Laser Doppler Velocimetry of Blood Flow in the Human Retina

Abstract

The laser doppler velocimetry was applied to the measurement of the velocity of the retinal blood flow using a fundus camera. This method allowed efficient measurements of the light scattered by the erythrocytes flowing in the vessels. With a computer which is triggered by an electrocardiogram, the autocorrelation function was calculated. Then the pulsation of blood flow velocity in the human retinal artery was shown as being synchronized to the heartbeat. There was no pulsatile flow in the retinal vein.