Some methodological problems in ocular fluorophotometry.

Facing conflicting results from centers working with vitreous fluorophotometry, we performed a series of methodological studies of the technique preceding clinical studies. A major problem is the resolution power of the system. This is predicted to be dependent on the size of the fiberoptic probe, the slit width and angle between incident and detecting light beam, which is shown to be true in experiments with glass cuvettes and in studies of the eyes of 10 healthy volunteers. In the in vivo studies, variations of slit height could also influence readings. The selection of appropriate filters is important to reduce reflexes and autofluorescence of the ocular media, which otherwise must be accounted for.