Experimental retinal branch vein occlusion in rhesus monkeys. II. Retinal blood flow studies.

Abstract

Experimental branch vein occlusion by laser photocoagulation in the rhesus monkey leads to early, marked, and lasting reduction of blood flow to the affected retinal region. The radioactive microsphere method demonstrates this reduction of blood flow in both gamma counting and autoradiography. The reduction of flow becomes evident as early as 2 hours after occlusion and persists up to 1 week. The mechanism of the altered flow is discussed.