Investigation of the vitreo-retino-ciliary barrier by vitreous fluorophotometry. I. Evaluation of age differences in normal adults
Yoshida, A.; Furukawa, H.; Murakami, K.; Takahashi, M.; Hosaka, A.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 89(5): 683-687
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-0203 PMID: 4025073 Document Number: 262604
The blood-ocular barrier permeability of 55 eyes of 37 normal subjects, ranging in age from 12-58 yr, was studied to investigate the age differences by vitreous fluorophotometry. The refraction of eyes was limited within .+-. 1. - dioptor. Eyes which showed any type of posterior vitreous detachment or distinct vitreous liquefaction were excluded by examination using a slit lamp with an El Bayadi-Kajiura lens and a Goldmann 3 mirror lens. Measurements of protein-unbound fluorescein concentration in the plasma for each subject were also used to calculate the blood-ocular permeability index for each eye. The lens autofluorescence increased significantly with age (r = 0.908, P < 0.0001). The value in the anterior chamber increased significantly with age (r = 0.553, P < 0.0001); it also showed significant correlation with the lens autofluorescence (r = 0.486, P < 0.0002). This increase in the anterior chamber was found to be an artifact caused by increased lens autofluorescence. The index which indicated the permeability of the blood-ciliary barrier did significantly increase in subjects in their fifties. This was found not to be an artifact caused by increased lens autofluorescence. The index which indicated the permeability of the blood-retinal barrier increased in subjects in their forties and significantly increased in subjects in their fifties. This index was also found not to be affected by increased lens autofluorescence. A multiple regression analysis disclosed that lens, blood-retinal barrier permeability and blood-ciliary barrier permeability in that order, were affected by age.