Vitreous fluorophotometry in optic nerve disease

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Posterior vitreous fluorophotometry (PVF) shows elevated measurements in acute retrobulbar neuritis.
• Optic neuropathies encompass a range of conditions affecting the optic nerve.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate posterior vitreous fluorophotometry (PVF) measurements in patients with various optic neuropathies.
• To assess the utility of PVF, with and without blood fluorescein correction, in diagnosing optic nerve disorders.

Main Methods:

• Posterior vitreous fluorophotometry was performed on 12 patients with optic neuropathy.
• Measurements were taken both with and without correction for blood fluorescein concentration.
• Anterior chamber fluorophotometry was also performed on 8 patients.

Main Results:

• Both uncorrected and corrected PVF measurements were significantly increased in patients with inflammatory, obstructive, and infiltrative optic neuropathies.
• No increase in fluorescein concentration was observed in the anterior chamber of the studied patients.

Conclusions:

• Posterior vitreous fluorophotometry is a sensitive indicator of optic nerve dysfunction in various optic neuropathies.
• PVF measurements, even when corrected for blood fluorescein, are elevated in these conditions, suggesting ocular origin.
• Anterior chamber fluorophotometry does not appear to be elevated in these optic neuropathy cases.