Retinal oxygen distribution. Its role in the physiopathology of vasoproliferative microangiopathies.

Abstract

A retinal branch vein occlusion in miniature pigs represents a reproducible experimental model of retinal neovascularization. Oxygen partial pressure measurements of the ischemic retina confirmed the hypothesis that tissue hypoxia triggers neovascularization; laser photocoagulation should be applied over the whole ischemic retinal areas to eliminate hypoxia in the inner retina.