Estimation of arterio-venous retinal blood flow variations during the cardiac cycle using real-time Doppler holography

We report the use of real-time Doppler holography to quantify arterio–venous retinal blood flow variations across the cardiac cycle with millisecond resolution. Using HoloDoppler (v2.8) and EyeFlow (v2.7), principal retinal vessels were segmented, and Doppler frequency broadening was analyzed to derive local velocity profiles and cross-sectional areas in the eye fundus of a volunteer, yielding volumetric flow rates. In a healthy subject, arterial and venous flow rates were approximately 45 µL/min and 50 µL/min, respectively, with total arterial and venous volumes per cardiac cycle of 621 nL and 695 nL. These values align with prior Doppler OCT and bidirectional laser Doppler velocimetry results. The technique’s accuracy, repeatability, and operator independence support its potential for clinical and research applications in retinal and systemic vascular health.