The production and mechanism of ghost cell glaucoma in the cat and primate.

Fresh human ghost blood cells (GBCs) have been shown to cause increased resistance to outflow in enucleated human eyes. In addition, glutaraldehyde-fixed GBCs can cause glaucoma in the rabbit and primate in vivo. The present study shows for the first time that fresh autologous GBCs can cause an acute in vivo rise of intraocular pressure when injected into the anterior chambers of the cat and primate. This rise was of greater magnitude and longer duration than that caused by the injection of a greater number of pliable, fresh red blood cells. It has been theorized that ghost cell glaucoma (GCG) is due to cellular obstruction of the intertrabecular spaces by the nonpliable GBCs. Histologic results from the present study confirm this belief. No evidence of significant trabecular meshwork degeneration or significant GBC phagocytosis was seen.