Retinal oximetry measures systemic hypoxia in central nervous system vessels in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BACKGROUND

Determination of the blood oxyhemoglobin saturation in the retinal vessels of the eye can be achieved through spectrophotometric retinal oximetry which provides access to the state of oxyhemoglobin saturation in the central nervous system circulation. The purpose of this study was to test the capability of the Oxymap T1 oximeter to detect systemic hypoxemia and the effect of supplemental oxygen on retinal vessel oxyhemoglobin saturation.

METHODS

Oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in retinal arterioles and venules was measured in 11 subjects with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on long term oxygen therapy. Measurements were made with and without their daily supplemental oxygen. Eleven healthy age and gender matched subjects were measured during ambient air breathing for comparison of oxyhemoglobin saturation in retinal arterioles and venules. Retinal arteriolar oxyhemoglobin saturation in COPD subjects inspiring ambient air was compared with finger pulse oximetry and blood samples from radial artery.

RESULTS

COPD subjects had significantly lower oxyhemoglobin saturation during ambient air breathing than healthy controls in both retinal arterioles (87.2%±4.9% vs. 93.4%±4.3%, p = 0.02; n = 11) and venules (45.0%±10.3% vs. 55.2%±5.5%, p = 0.01). Administration of their prescribed supplemental oxygen increased oxyhemoglobin saturation in retinal arterioles (87.2%±4.9% to 89.5%±6.0%, p = 0.02) but not in venules (45.0%±10.3% to 46.7%±12.8%, p = 0.3). Retinal oximetry values were slightly lower than radial artery blood values (mean percentage points difference = -5.0±5.4, 95% CI: -15.68 to 5.67) and finger pulse oximetry values (-3.1±5.5, 95% CI: -14.05 to 7.84).

CONCLUSIONS

The noninvasive Oxymap T1 retinal oximetry detects hypoxemia in central nervous system vessels in patients with severe COPD compared with healthy controls. The instrument is sensitive to changes in oxygen breathing but displays slightly lower measures than finger pulse oximetry or radial artery measures. With further technological improvement, retinal oximetry may offer noninvasive "on-line" measurement of oxygen levels in central circulation in general anesthesia and critically ill patients.

Retinal Vessel Oxygen Saturation during 100% Oxygen Breathing in Healthy Individuals

Purpose

To detect how systemic hyperoxia affects oxygen saturation in retinal arterioles and venules in healthy individuals.

Methods

Retinal vessel oxygen saturation was measured in 30 healthy individuals with a spectrophotometric retinal oximeter (Oxymap T1). Oximetry was performed during breathing of room air, 100% oxygen (10 minutes, 6L/min) and then again room air (10 minutes recovery).

Results

Mean oxygen saturation rises modestly in retinal arterioles during 100% oxygen breathing (94.5%±3.8 vs. 92.0%±3.7% at baseline, p<0.0001) and dramatically in retinal venules (76.2%±8.0% vs. 51.3%±5.6%, p<0.0001). The arteriovenous difference decreased during 100% oxygen breathing (18.3%±9.0% vs. 40.7%±5.7%, p<0.0001). The mean diameter of arterioles decreased during 100% oxygen breathing compared to baseline (9.7±1.4 pixels vs. 10.3±1.3 pixels, p<0.0001) and the same applies to the mean venular diameter (11.4±1.2 pixels vs. 13.3±1.5 pixels, p<0.0001).

Conclusions

Breathing 100% oxygen increases oxygen saturation in retinal arterioles and more so in venules and constricts them compared to baseline levels. The dramatic increase in oxygen saturation in venules reflects oxygen flow from the choroid and the unusual vascular anatomy and oxygen physiology of the eye.

Retinal oximetry with a scanning laser ophthalmoscope

PURPOSE

The purpose of the study was to assess if a scanning laser ophthalmoscope (SLO), Optomap 200Tx, could be used for measurements of hemoglobin oxygen saturation in retinal blood vessels.

METHODS

Optomap 200Tx uses two lasers for image acquisition, 532 and 633 nm. Retinal images of healthy individuals and patients with retinal vein occlusion were analyzed with modified Oxymap Analyzer software, which tracks retinal vessels and calculates relative hemoglobin oxygen saturation.

RESULTS

Oxygen saturation in healthy individuals was measured as 92% ± 13% for arterioles and 57% ± 12% for venules (mean ± SD, n = 11, P = 0.0001). Standard deviation for repeated measurements of the same eye was 3.5% for arterioles and 4.4% for venules. In patients with confirmed venular hypoxia, central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) or hemivein occlusion, the average venular oxygen saturation was measured as 23% ± 3% in the affected eyes and 59% ± 3% in the fellow eyes (n = 4, P = 0.0009).

CONCLUSIONS

Technically, it is possible to derive information on retinal oxygen saturation from an SLO with a 2-wavelength oximetry algorithm. The system produced both sensitive and repeatable results. The remaining challenges include decreasing variability between vessels of the same eye and variability between individuals. Given the advantages that SLO imaging has over conventional fundus camera optics in retinal oximetry, further development of SLO oximetry may provide the optimal approach to retinal oximetry.