On the recovery of the electroretinogram after removal of intravitreal copper particles

Abstract

This report details the influence of the time lapse and surface area size of intravitreal copper foreign bodies on the electroretinogram (ERG) and the recovery of the potentials after removal of the particles. Pure copper wires were implanted temporarily into the vitreous body of rat eyes in the area of the ora serrata and the values of the ERG were compared with those of the intact fellow eyes. In three different procedures with groups of 12 animals each the following results were obtained: (1) The metal toxicity of small copper particles (0.3 mm2) remaining one day in the vitreous body reduced the amplitudes of the a1-, a2-, and b-wave only 10% by the end of the observation time of 260 days, (2) The loss of ERG amplitudes increased to about 25% under the influence of larger copper particles (1.3 mm2; time lapse one day); and (3) Copper particles with an active surface of 1.3 mm2 remaining two days in the vitreous body caused a permanent loss of about 50%.