Vitreous fluorophotometry and retinal blood flow studies in proliferative retinopathy.

The permeability of the blood-retinal barrier and retinal blood flow were evaluated by two new fluorophotometric methods in a series of patients with proliferative retinopathy, due either to retinal vein occlusion or to diabetes. A breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier and a decrease in retinal blood flow were observed in these patients. The breakdown of the blood-retinal barrier could be quantitated by vitreous fluorophotometry, which revealed very high concentrations of fluorescein in the vitreous after intravenous administration. The decrease in retinal blood flow appeared to be due mainly to appreciable narrowing of the retinal arteriolar vessels.