Vascular damage in the anterior uvea induced by intravitreal autogenous blood.

The effects of vitreous hemorrhages on anterior uveal vessels were studied. Albino rabbits were injected intravitreally with autogenous blood, plasma, RBCs, iron-dextrin, or Ringer's solution. The vascular permeability was assessed by fluorescein iris angiography, carbon labeling and penetration of peroxidase. Following one injection of blood, aqueous flare and fluorescein leakage from the iris were observed for 40 days. Intense vascular carbon labeling in iridial and ciliary processes was present for 1-40 days and weak-to-moderate labeling in the iris for 9-40 days. Repeated blood injections aggravated the vascular response, showing extravasation of peroxidase and carbon labeling of iridial vessels for 92 days. The most severe vascular damage ensued from iron-dextrin and RBCs. Plasma an Ringer's solution gave no reaction. The authors suggest that the iron-containing degradation products of RBCs induce vascular damage in anterior uvea and disruption of blood-aqueous barriers.