Ocular fluorophotometry in normal subjects.

Leakage of fluorescein to the vitreous has been reported in diabetes and systemic hypertension. We have done detailed studies in normal subjects to look for determinators of possible leakage in this population. Twenty-nine healthy males, aged 18-67 years, were studied in the morning after an overnight fast. Fluorescein 17 mg/kg body weight was injected intravenously and blood drawn 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 75 and 120 minutes later for measurement of ultrafiltrable fluorescein. Ocular fluorophotometry was performed before, 60 and 120 min after the injection. Mean fluorescein (+/- SD) in the posterior vitreous was 8.1 (+/- 5.5), middle vitreous 4.7 (+/- 6.0) and aqueous 240 (+/- 142) ng/ml after 60 minutes. At 120 minutes, a significant increase to 12.2 (+/- 8.6), 9.4 (+/- 9.3) and 317 (+/- 139) ng/ml was found in the three regions, p less than 0.05. At 60 minutes, age related significantly to posterior and middle vitreous concentrations, Spearmans rho = 0.49 and 0.61, as well as to aqueous concentrations, rho = 0.51 (p less than 0.01). Blood pressure related only to aqueous concentrations, at 60 minutes, rho = 0.42, p less than 0.05. When the intraocular measurements were corrected for average preceding ultrafiltrable fluorescein, age remained significantly related only to vitreous readings and blood pressure to aqueous readings.