Urokinase-treatment of fresh laser irradiation-induced vitreous hemorrhage

Using a ruby laser, we induced vitreous hemorrhage in each eye of 12 rabbits. On the following day either 25,000 Ploug units of urokinase or saline were injected into the eyes of each rabbit. Urokinase did not accelerate the absorption of blood from the vitreous but prevented the development of severe vitreous fibrosis which replaced the hemorrhage in seven of the control eyes.