Laser flare-cell meter analysis of blood-aqueous barrier functional status in a patient with crystalline retinopathy.
This is the first report in the literature of the application of a laser flare-cell meter to examine the functional status of the blood-aqueous barrier in a patient with crystalline retinopathy. The patient, a 34-year-old man with typical crystalline retinopathy, had crystal deposits scattered throughout the posterior pole of the fundus in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and geographic areas of choriocapillaris atrophy in the posterior pole. Electroretinography showed subnormal amplitude, and the light-peak/dark-trough ratio of the electrooculogram was reduced. Laser photometry showed an increase in the aqueous flare intensity in both eyes, compared with normal values obtained from healthy control subjects. The increase in the aqueous flare intensity in this patient indicates that the function of the blood-aqueous barrier might have been affected in crystalline retinopathy.
Chen
M S
MS
Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei.
Tseng
M C
MC
Tsai
C B
CB
Hou
P K
PK
D000328:Adult; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D003460:Crystallization; D003941:Diagnostic Techniques, Ophthalmological; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008297:Male; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods*; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*