Intravitreal gas injection diminishes hyaluronic acid

Objectives To determine if compression of the vitreous by an intraocular gas bubble diminishes the concentration of hyaluronic acid (NaHA). Materials and Methods Eighteen albino rabbits had air, xenon or perfluoroethane (C2F6) injected into the Vitreous to displace 12.5% to 90% of the vitreous volume. After the gas was absorbed, the vitreous was analyzed for NaHA by the Carbazole method (1, 13). Results A 90% displacement diminished the NaHA concentration by 18.6%. Lesser displacements caused a lesser loss, but the differences are not significant. Conclusion Intraocular gas injections, both large and small, reduce the concentration of NaHA and destabilize the vitreous structure.