A No-Touch Ocular Pulse Measurement System for the Diagnosis of Carotid Occlusions

The ocular pulse (OP) is the minute, radial displacement of the corneal surface caused by arterial pressure pulsations in the ocular circulation acting on the compliance of the cornea. Features of the OP waveform have been shown by several workers to be important diagnostic indicators of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in which the common carotid and/or lower internal carotid arteries are significantly occluded. Early diagnosis of CVD is held to be important in predicting strokes and in implementing procedures to lower their likelihood.