Barrier function of corneal endothelium and the intraocular irrigating solutions
M. Araie
I studied the in vitro effect of three intraocular irrigating solutions--a
glutathione bicarbonate Ringer (GBR), a commercially available glucose
glutathione bicarbonate solution (BSS Plus), and a citrate-acetate
bicarbonate solution (S-MA2)--on the barrier function of the corneal
endothelium. The major chemical differences between S-MA2 and GBR or BSS
Plus are that S-MA2 does not contain glutathione and phosphate but does
contain acetate and citrate. Paired rabbit corneas were perfused
separately, and the endothelial permeability (Pac) to carboxyfluorescein
was determined. Between the paired corneas perfused with GBR and BSS Plus,
there was no significant difference in the Pac, while a significant
difference in this factor was seen between the paired corneas perfused with
GBR and S-MA2; the figure was about 20% larger for S-MA2. It is suggested
that BSS Plus or GBR is less harmful to the endothelial barrier function
than S-MA2 and that Pac to carboxyfluorescein can be a useful index in
determining the safety of the intraocular irrigating solutions.
