Fluorophotometric evaluation of ocular barriers and of the vitreous body in the aphakic eye.

8 aphakic patients were studied with fluorophotometry and 3-mirror examination of the vitreous body one month after cataract extraction. 4 were extracapsular with posterior chamber pseudophakos (ECCE) and 4 were intracapsular with anterior chamber pseudophakos (ICCE). A mathematical model is used to calculate blood-ocular fluorescein permeability (P) and vitreous diffusion coefficient (D) from fluorophotometric scans. All 30-minutes scans in the ECCE group and 2 in the ICCE showed a profile resembling that in phakic eyes, and P- and D-values were calculated. In the remaining two patients from the ICCE group scans showed rapid filling of the vitreous cavity with fluoroscein and calculations could not be made. Clinical examination showed vitreous detachment in these two eyes whereas the others had a normal vitreous structure evaluated by 3-mirror examination. It is shown that fluorophotometric readings can be made in both intra- and extracapsularly operated eyes. Rapid mixing of the dye in the vitreous cavity is seen in relation to vitreous detachment.