Biomicroscopy of the conjunctival microcirculation in a large number of stroke patients has revealed the consistent presence of dynamic and morphological changes in venules, capillaries, and small arteries. The dynamic changes include sludging of red blood cells, slowing of flow, and areas of stasis. The morphological abnormalities, which we have designated degenerative microangiopathy, include tortuosity of small arteries and veins, localized ectasia of venules, micropools or microaneurysms, or both, and avascular areas. Similar abnormalities have been found in the cerebral microcirculation by Russell, Hassler, Scheinker, Fang, and others.
A milder degree of degenerative microangiopathy has been observed in a number