Effects of intravitreal prostaglandins on retinal vasculature.

One dose of each prostaglandin preparation was injected into the vitreous body of the right eye of 64 rabbits. Doses less than 200mug caused no toxicity. Doses greater than 200mug exhibited the following changes observed by ophthalmoscopic observation, fluorescein angiography, histologic preparation, and electron microscopy: vascular leakage, vascular occlusion, hemorrhage, and retinal detachment. Electron micrographs revealed damaged retinal vascular endothelial cells. These changes were considered secondary toxic phenomena and did not occur at physiologic prostaglandin concentrations.