Theoretical models of retinal hemodynamics showed the modulation of retinal pulsatile patterns (RPPs) by heart rate (HR), yet in-vivo validation and scientific merit of this biological process is lacking. Such evidence is critical for result interpretation, study design, and (patho-)physiological modeling of human biology spanning applications in various medical specialties. In retinal hemodynamic video-recordings, we characterize the morphology of RPPs and assess the impact of modulation by HR or other variables. Principal component analysis isolated two RPPs, i.e., spontaneous venous pulsation (SVP) and optic cup pulsation (OCP). Heart rate modulated SVP and OCP morphology (pFDR < 0.05); age modulated SVP morphology (pFDR < 0.05). In addition, age and HR demonstrated the effect on between-group differences. This knowledge greatly affects future study designs, analyses of between-group differences in RPPs, and biophysical models investigating relationships between RPPs, intracranial, intraocular pressures, and cardiovascular physiology.

Center for Magnetic Resonance Research Department of Radiology University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA

Department of Biomedical Engineering Brno University of Technology Brno Czech Republic

Department of Neurology University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA

Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA

Department of Ophthalmology Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen Nuremberg Erlangen Germany

Division of Clinical Behavioral Neuroscience Department of Pediatrics Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain University of Minnesota Minneapolis MN USA

Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering Purdue University West Lafayette IN USA

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Assessment of retinal vein pulsation through video-ophthalmoscopy and simultaneous biosignals acquisition