Effect of aging on foveolar choroidal circulation.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of aging on choroidal blood flow (ChBFlow) in the foveolar region of the normal ocular fundus. METHOD Choroidal blood flow was determined using laser Doppler flowmetry. Twenty-nine eyes of 29 normal subjects whose ages ranged from 15 to 76 years (mean+/-SD, 42+/-18 years) were included in this study. Relative choroidal blood velocity (ChBVel), choroidal blood volume (ChBVol), and ChBFlow were determined in the foveolar region by asking the subjects to fixate on the probing laser beam. RESULTS Significant negative correlations were observed between ChBVol and the subject's age (R=-0.52, P=.004) and between ChBFlow and the subject's age (R=-0.54, P=.003). No significant correlation was detected between ChBVel and the subject's age (R=0.07, P=.70). Significant differences were observed in ChBVol and ChBFlow between the younger subjects aged 15 to 45 years (mean+/-SD, 0.48+/-0.20 arbitrary units [AU] and 18.9+/-5.8 AU, respectively) and the older ones aged 46 to 76 years (mean+/-SD, 0.34+/-0.11 AU and 13.3+/-3.3 AU, respectively; unpaired Student t test, P=.04 and P=.007, respectively). CONCLUSION In the subjects studied, foveolar ChBFlow decreases with age. This change is probably related to the decrease in density and diameter of the choriocapillaries that occurs with increasing age.