Intravitreal injection of autologous blood in primates

Thirteen owl monkeys received intravitreal injections of 0.3 ml of autologous blood in single or multiple injections. Blood was antiocoagulated either with heparin to inhabit clot formation or with citrate to allow clot production within the vitreous body. Clinical observations showed that approximately 60% of the heparinized eyes cleared, whereas only about 5% of the citrated eyes did. Thus, clotting appears to have a significant effect on the clearance of blood from the vitreous chamber. In addition to the abscence of hemosiderosis, histological and ultrastructural studies of retinas showed no retinal damage.