A noninvasive method for detection and analysis of metals in the eye.

X-ray spectrometry appears to be a reliable and safe method for noninvasive detection and measurement of metals in the eye for clinical and experimental purposes. Preliminary results in rabbits show that the dissolution of small copper intraocular foreign bodies can be detected shortly after their implantation. The dissolution was measured repeatedly and described as a function of time. It is hoped that this method can supply data regarding the nature and the extent of dissociation of intraocular foreign bodies, thus supplementing methods which can give information regarding only their presence and location.