Systematic review of Laser Doppler Holography for choroidal blood flow assessment

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Frontiers in Medicine Published April 23, 2026 Medically reviewed April 24, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Lars van Dijk, PhD · Surgical, Procedural & Diagnostic

Key Takeaway

Consider the limited evidence on LDH for choroidal blood flow, noting only 2 studies in the meta-analysis.

This is a systematic review with meta-analysis of Laser Doppler Holography (LDH) for assessing choroidal blood flow in humans. The scope was to synthesize evidence on choroidal artery diameter and hemodynamic parameters from studies using LDH.

The authors identified only 8 studies for qualitative synthesis, with only 2 studies included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean diameter of choroidal arteries was 134.2 μm (95% CI: 128.3 to 140.1 μm). Other outcomes assessed included hemodynamic parameters and vascular anatomy.

Key limitations acknowledged by the authors are the very small number of studies meeting inclusion criteria, with only 2 studies contributing to the pooled analysis. This severely limits the generalizability and robustness of the findings.

The authors conclude that LDH is a promising and versatile technique for studying choroidal blood flow quickly and non-invasively. However, the evidence base is preliminary, and practice relevance is constrained by the limited data. Clinicians should interpret these findings cautiously given the small number of studies.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedApr 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

IntroductionQuantitative choroidal blood flow assessment is important for understanding chorioretinal diseases. Laser Doppler Holography (LDH) is a new non-invasive imaging technique that provides full-field, high-temporal-resolution assessments of ocular hemodynamics. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on LDH’s technical capabilities, clinical applications, and provides normative reference values for choroidal vascular anatomy.MethodsA systematic search of the literature was undertaken in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. Studies that evaluated choroidal blood flow in humans using LDH were identified. Data on technical specifications, hemodynamic parameters, and vascular anatomy were extracted for narrative synthesis.ResultsThe comprehensive literature search resulted in 347 records, with 8 studies that met the inclusion criteria for qualitative synthesis, as well as 2 studies that could be included in the meta-analysis. The pooled mean diameter of the choroidal arteries was derived to be 134.2 μm (95% CI: 128.3 to 140.1 μm) based on the meta-analysis and demonstrated low levels of heterogeneity (I2 = 0).DiscussionThe narrative synthesis found that LDH could assess choroidal vasculature, differentiate arteries from veins using both flow waveforms and spectral data, deliver quantitative data for hemodynamic parameters, and assess blood flow directionality. LDH is a promising and versatile technique to study choroidal blood flow quickly and non-invasively.