Effects of anterior chamber irrigation and irrigating solutions on the blood aqueous barrier

Anterior chamber irrigation and irrigating solutions were evaluated for their possible damaging effects on the blood-aqueous barrier. Rabbit anterior chamber was irrigated with physiological saline, lactated Ringer solution, balanced salt solution (BSS) and S-MA2 using the irrigation aspiration tip of Cavitron Kelman phacoemulsifier. Fluorophotometry was performed to evaluate the function of the blood-aqueous barrier. Physiological saline yielded the most severe damage, and lactated Ringer solution and BSS yielded moderate damage in blood aqueous barrier, while S-MA 2 showed only slight damage to barrier function. These results suggest that HCO^–3 and glucose, as well as Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and the buffer system, are essential constituents for maintaining function in the blood-aqueous barrier.