Retinal fluorotachometry : a clinically applicable method of retinal flow measurements

A considerable percentage of diseases in humans is related to disturbances of capillary perfusion. Measurements of capillary flow are of scientific as well as of practical clinical interest. Their scientific value lies in the possibility to gain more insight into pathophysiological processes which are related to capillary malperfusion {e.g. in hypertension, diabetes mellitus, senile vasculopathy). Their clinical value lies in the possibility of an early assessment of capillary malperfusion and the measurement of the effect of treatment on the disturbed capillary flow.Blood is a highly dynamic organ: it is continuously in motion and it continuously exchanges substances with the living tissues of the organism. By these two dynamic processes at capillary level, the "milieu interieur" is maintained.Retinal fluorotachometry {RFT) is a new clinical method for measurements of retinal blood flow and in particular retinal capillary perfusion. "Retinal fluoro" refers to: a fluorescent dye front in the retinal vessels, and "tachometry" [Gr. taches: speed, metrein: to measure] means: measurement of the speed. So RFT is: measurement of the speed of a fluorescent dye front in the retinal vessels. The development and application of this method is the subject of this thesis