Analysis of animal models of macular edema

Various models of macular edema have been studied; however, frank development of a prototypical cystoid macular edema has not been observed. In humans, cystoid edema is frequently observed in association with other disturbances of the retina. Thus, a basic drawback of the animal models may be that an otherwise healthy retina is capable of resolving the experimentally produced edema, thereby preventing chronic cystoid maculopathy. A review of macular edema models and of experimental retinal and brain edema investigations suggests that blood-retinal (blood-brain) barrier permeability abnormalities need to be accompanied by ineffective edema resolving mechanisms for the production of a chronic edema. Intraglial uptake of extravasated serum proteins has been hypothesized to be an edema-resolving mechanism in brain edema. As such, the hypothesis that the Müller cell may be important to edema resolution appears attractive. Future animal model studies should include methodologies whereby edema resolution mechanisms are impaired.