MRI of blood flow in the human retina/choroid complex

Abstract

Blood flow in retina and choroid is perturbed in ischemic retinal diseases such as diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Majority of the blood supply to the retina is derived from choroidal circulation; therefore an adequate blood flow in the choroid is essential for maintaining retinal health. Choroidal blood flow is also indicated in transient thickness changes in the choroid and in thermoregulation of the retina. However, the exact mechanisms underlying these choroidal functions are still unclear, as quantifying choroidal blood flow remains challenging. This talk will give an overview of a novel approach to quantify blood flow in the retina/choroid complex using a non-invasive MRI technique.