Laser flare cell meter analysis of blood-aqueous barrier functional statusin a patient with crystalline retinopathy

This is the first report in the literature of the application of a laser fl are-cell meter to examine the functional status of the blood-aqueous barrie r in a patient with crystalline retinopathy. The patient, a 34-year-old man with typical crystalline retinopathy, had crystal deposits scattered throu ghout the posterior pole of the fundus in both eyes. Fluorescein angiograph y showed atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium and geographic areas of choriocapillaris atrophy in the posterior pole. Electroretinography showed subnormal amplitude, and the light-peak/dark-trough ratio of the electroocu logram was reduced. Laser photometry showed an increase in the aqueous flar e intensity in both eyes, compared with normal values obtained from healthy control subjects. The increase in the aqueous flare intensity in this pati ent indicates that the function of the blood-aqueous barrier might have bee n affected in crystalline retinopathy.