SIGNIFICANCE OF BRUCHS MEMBRANE IN THE CREATION OF IATROGENIC CHORIORETINAL VENOUS ANASTOMOSIS

Iatrogenic retinal to choroidal vein anastomoses, as a method of bypas sing retinal venous occlusions has been reported in dogs in which Bruc h's membrane is poorly formed (6). In order to determine whether chori oretinal venous anastomoses can be induced in an animal with a Bruch's membrane that is well developed as in humans, pigmented rats were cho sen. A high intensity, small spot size argon green laser beam of 514 n m was used to induce the anastomosis. Three out of 5 rat eyes develope d a retinal vein to choroidal vein anastomosis. The success rate of ia trogenic retinal to choroidal vein anastomoses in the rat was comparab le to that obtained in the dog. This study suggests that Bruch's membr ane was not significant in the creation of an iatrogenic chorioretinal venous anastomosis.