Lack of fluorophotometric evidence of aqueous-vitreous barrier disruption after posterior capsulorhexis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the integrity of the aqueous-vitreous barrier by assessing the flow of fluorescein from the anterior chamber to the anterior vitreous using fluorophotometry in eyes with a posterior continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (PCCC) and in eyes without a PCCC.


METHODS
University Hospital Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium.


METHODS
Ten patients had bilateral extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of an intraocular lens. In 1 eye, a PCCC was performed; the other eye served as a negative control. The eyes of 2 other patients who had complicated cataract surgery with posterior capsule and anterior hyaloid membrane rupture served as positive controls. All patients had fluorophotometry of both eyes 12 to 18 months after surgery to measure the flow of fluorescein from the anterior chamber to the anterior vitreous.


RESULTS
There were no statistically significant differences in the distribution pattern of fluorescein between eyes with PCCC and eyes without PCCC. In contrast, enhanced flow was detected in both eyes with rupture of the posterior capsule and the anterior hyaloid.


CONCLUSIONS
In this fluorophotometry study, a PCCC did not seem to disrupt the aqueous-vitreous barrier. Results indicate that an intact anterior vitreous membrane is crucial to maintain the barrier function between the anterior and the posterior segments of the eye.
De Groot
Veva
V
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Antwerp, Edegem, Belgium. vera.de.groot@uza.be
Hubert
Mia
M
Van Best
Jaap A
JA
Engelen
Sanne
S
Van Aelst
Stefan
S
Tassignon
Marie José
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001693:Biological Transport, Active / Q000502:physiology; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D005260:Female; D019793:Fluorescein / Q000378:metabolism; D015590:Fluorophotometry / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000502:physiology*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010539:Permeability; D014822:Vitreous Body / Q000378:metabolism*
D019793:Fluorescein