[Trace iron and free radical analysis in intraocular ferreous foreign body injury]

Within 7 days after implantation of ferreous foreign body into the vitreous of rabbit eyes, ERG amplitudes decreased and local retinal degeneration was discernible under light and electron microscope. The iron ion concentration in aqueous and vitreous of the experimental eyes began to increase 4 hours after implantation and became significantly higher than that in the control eyes after 24 hours (P less than 0.01 or 0.05). The value of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the retina was closely correlated with the iron concentration in the vitreous (r = 0.86). 24 hours after iron implantation, the level of MDA in the experimental eyes was 1.3 times that in the control eyes (P less than 0.05). On the 28th day, the level of MDA was about 2 times that in the control eyes. The clinical significance of early trace iron analysis of the aqueous and the mechanism of retinal degeneration were discussed.