Purpose: Perfusion of the retina is adapted to the metabolic demand by neurovascular coupling. The present study investigated the presence of neurovascular coupling in the anterior part of the optic nerve in healthy and glaucoma subjects. Methods: Retrobulbar blood flow velocities were determined by color Doppler imaging (CDI). Peak-systolic and end-diastolic velocities (PSV and EDV) in the central retinal artery (CRA) or the short posterior ciliary artery (SPCA) were the primary readout. CDI measurements were performed shortly before, during, immediately after, 60 s after, and 120 s after a 10-Hz flicker stimulation of the retina. Results: Thirty-five glaucoma patients and 44 healthy control subjects were included in the study. In the SPCA of healthy controls, flicker stimulation led to a rise of PSV from 9.7+/-0.8 to 12.5+/-0.8 cm/s (P
