Techniques of Ocular Pulse Analysis in Carotid Stenosis

Abstract

Two methods of wave form analysis were studied to compare their sensitivity and specificity in detecting the effect of unilateral common carotid artery stenosis on the ipsilateral ocular pulse in the rabbit. The first method, using standard graphic analytical techniques to detect alterations in pulse amplitude and area, was capable of detecting lesions that produced 50% or more stenosis of the carotid artery. In the second method, the ocular pulse was subjected to Fourier analysis which determined the first three harmonics. This method of analysis was capable of detecting as little as 20% stenosis of the carotid artery and was therefore the more sensitive of the two techniques of wave form analysis.