PERFLUOROOCTYLBROMIDE (PFOB) AS A VITREOUS SUBSTITUTE IN NONHUMAN-PRIMATES

We evaluated the toxicity of perfluorooctylbromide in the primate eye as a short-term postoperative vitreous substitute. Four eyes of 4 Afri can green monkeys underwent complete vitrectomy and vitreous replaceme nt with 1.5-2.0 ml of PFOB. One additional animal received BSS as a co ntrol vitreous substitute in one eye. Animals were examined twice week ly for clarity and consistency of the vitreous replacement substance. Anterior segment and lenses remained clear in all eyes, although in th e immediate postoperative period one eye became inflamed and had a cul ture-negative vitritis. The other eyes showed a minimal anticipated po stoperative vitreous inflammation. Emulsification of the PFOB began wi thin 3 days of injection and progressed up to 3 weeks, precluding fund us examination and fluorescein angiography after 2 weeks. Eyes were en ucleated and light microscopy performed at 2 days, 10 days, 33 days, a nd 45 days. No toxic effects to the retinal cells were detectable by h istological examination, but perivasculitis of retinal vessels was not ed at 45 days. Indirect examination was normal up to 10 days; thereaft er, the fundus view was obscured by the emulsified PFOB. Because of ce llular migration into the vitreous cavity and retinal perivasculitis, observed histologically, PFOB seems most suitable for intraoperative r ather than postoperative use.