Abnormal ocular pneumoplethysmographic results in unilateral neovascular glaucoma

The evaluation of the carotid artery for atherosclerotic disease may be carried out through a number of noninvasive procedures, including Doppler ultrasound scanning. Another method, ocular pneumoplethysmography, or OPG-Gee, is sensitive and specific in diagnosing carotid artery disease. However, results obtained from eight patients with unilateral severe neovascular glaucoma indicate that the test may produce false positive results for carotid artery atherosclerotic disease. Since patients testing abnormal on the OPG-Gee are subjected to further testing, which is often invasive, it is important that the physician rule out intraocular pressure as a possible source of a positive reading on the OPG-Gee test. Another condition which may produce a false positive on OPG-Gee are giant cell arteritis, a systemic vascular inflammation with predominantly visual manifestations. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)