Inhibition of intraocular proliferations with intravitreal corticosteroids.

Autotransplantation of one fourth million tissue cultured fibroblasts from rabbit rump skin into the vitreous cavity resulted in intravitreal strand formation and traction retinal detachment (27 of 47 eyes, 57%). A single intravitreal injection of 1 mg of dexamethasone alcohol inhibited fibroblast growth as judged by the significantly reduced number of retinal detachments (11 of 46 eyes, 24%). Retinal neovascularization that was observed when fibrous strands came into contact with vascularized retina (nine of 47 eyes, 19%) was also inhibited after corticosteroid application (two of 46 eyes, 4%).