The hemorheological mechanisms in normal tension glaucoma

Purpose: To investigate the differences in hemorheological parameters between patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and normal controls. Methods: Twenty patients with NTG and 21 age-matched normal controls were included in the study. Hemorheological parameters of the venous blood samples, including blood viscosity at the shear rates of 500, 250, and 5 s^-1, and viscoelasticity were measured using a rotational rheometer; erythrocyte deformability and aggregation were measured using a ektacytometer; and erythrocyte rigidity and the oxygen transport efficiency of blood were calculated. Results: Higher blood viscosities at the high (p