Outward transport of fluorescein from the vitreous in aphakic eyes.

By administering fluorescein intravenously to 95 patients we calculated the ratio of fluorescein concentration in the vitreous at the time of its peak level compared with the estimated unbound concentration of fluorescein in the plasma at the same time. We studied 12 normal phakic and 83 aphakic eye approximately two months, one year, and more than two years after cataract extraction. All the eyes had undergone intracapsular cataract extraction or extracapsular cataract extraction, with or without posterior capsulotomy, because of senile cataract. The calculated ratio in patients with intracapsular and extracapsular lens extraction was statistically significantly reduced at two months and one year after cataract extraction and was normalised at more than two years after the operation in comparison with normal subjects. The ratio was statistically extracapsular extraction at two months and one year after surgery. Posterior capsulotomy had no effect on the ratio. The ratio, we considered, at least partially reflects the outward transport of fluorescein from the vitreous cavity. Although the findings reflect subclinical phenomena, they are of importance when considering postoperative sequelae. The posterior lens capsule, zonule, and intact anterior vitreous face may be essential for the anterior uvea to function in the outward transport of fluorescein from the vitreous cavity.