Postural changes in perfusion pressure and retinal arteriolar calibre

Ophthalmic artery perfusion pressures and retinal arteriolar calibres were studied in 10 human subjects when sitting, standing, and lying. Differing responses in perfusion pressure were found; autoregulatory responses were found in 13 of the 18 significant calibre changes on moving from sitting to standing and 13 of 22 significant calibre changes on moving from standing to lying. The remaining significant calibre changes were non-autoregulatory, the arterioles dilating with perfusion pressure increase and constricting with decrease.