Quantification of blood-aqueous barrier function using laser flare measurement and fluorophotometry--a comparative study.

Fluorophotometry allows calculation of the permeability coefficient k(a) of the blood-aqueous barrier to fluoresceine after i.v. dye application; aqueous flare can be graded objectively by laser flare measurement and permits in vivo estimation of over-all protein concentration in the aqueous humor. To evaluate a formal relationship between both procedures we performed laser flare measurements on 40 eyes (clinically ranged from healthy to mild uveitis) before and during fluorophotometry. Laser flare count [mec-1] raises exponentially (r = 0.8; p = 0.05) with an increasing permeability coefficient to fluoresceine k(a) [10(-4)min-1]. Laser flare count during the fluorophotometry procedure is not increased (p = 0.05) compared to the prescan. Reproducability was 14% +/- 7.5% for laser flare measurements and 13% +/- 5% for fluorophotometry. Malfunction of the blood aqueous barrier possibly increases the permeability to molecules of high molecular weight not proportional to that of hydrophilic particles of low molecular weight. The exponential regression between the data achieved with both procedures suggests that fluorophotometry is more sensitive in detecting early changes in blood aqueous barrier function whereas laser flare detection could be appropriate in more severe cases of barrier dysfunction.