PHARMACOLOGICAL INDUCTION OF POSTERIOR VITREOUS DETACHMENT IN THE RABBIT

Objective.-To assay the proteolytic activity of plasmin on the vitreor etinal junction and to assess a potential facilitating effect on poste rior vitreous detachment. Methods.-We injected 1 U of plasmin into the vitreous of rabbits. Some eyes underwent vitrectomy after plasmin inj ection. Electroretinography and electron microscopy were performed. Re sults.-In plasmin-treated eyes, electroretinography displayed a transi ent (3 days) decreased b-wave amplitude. Histologic examination demons trated posterior vitreous detachment in eyes that received intravitrea l plasmin followed by vitrectomy. Conclusion.-Plasmin may prove to be a useful biochemical adjunct to mechanical vitrectomy.