Blood-retinal barrier in long-standing aphakic eyes after extra- and intracapsular lens extractions

Abstract

The integrity of the blood-retinal barrier in aphakia was evaluated by vitreous fluorophotometry in 291 eyes. Following cataract extraction, a disruption in the blood-retinal barrier persists for a longer time than previously believed. The incidence of barrier breakdown is related to age and the type of extraction performed (intracapsular cataract extraction vs extracapsular cataract extraction). The incidence is higher in older ages and in eyes with intracapsular cataract extraction than in eyes with extracapsular extraction. Although these findings reflect sub-clinical phenomena, they are biologically significant.