Pharmacologic modification of subretinal fluid absorption in the rabbit eye.

We studied in the rabbit the effects of pharmacologic agents on the absorption of Hanks' solution from the subretinal space of experimental nonrhegmatogenous detachments. Intravenous acetazolamide had no effect at a clinical dose (15 mg/kg) but increased the rate of fluid absorption significantly at high doses (50 mg/kg). Acetazolamide causes systemic pH to fall, while PCO2 and PO2 increase; however, duplicating some of these effects by artificial respiration or breathing 95% O2 plus 5% CO2 did not alter the rate of fluid absorption. Adding cyclic AMP and related agents to the vitreous and subretinal space slowed down fluid absorption by 25%, whereas cyclic GMP analogues increased the rate of absorption by 33%.