Perfluorocarbon effects on rabbit blood-retinal barrier permeability.

Studies have been made of the effects of intravitreal perfluoro-n-octane on the permeability to fluorescein of the blood-retinal barrier in rabbits. At day 1 after injection, there is increased aqueous humor fluorescence that reflects the physical disturbance to the eye following injection. From that time through 7 weeks, there is no evidence of any overt toxicity to the blood-retinal barrier. The retention in the vitreous of a small volume of perfluoro-n-octane following its intraoperative use would not be expected to induce a toxic response. Some effect on an already compromised retina cannot, however, be excluded.