Vitreous oxygen tension of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

: The authors investigated the vitreous oxygen tension in 30 eyes of 29 cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients in order to determine the distribution of oxygen tension and the possible role of neovascular tissue in tissue oxygenation. Vitreous oxygen tension was measured using a polarographic oxygen electrode and a PO2 monitoring system (PO-2080). Prior to pars plana vitrectomy, the oxygen electrode was inserted into the vitreous cavity under microscopic observation with dim illumination transmitted fiberoptically. The respective oxygen tension at the mid-vitreous cavity, above the optic disc, above the macula, above the neovascular tissue, in the peripheral vitreous, above the photocoagulated retina and above the non-photocoagulated retina were 15.8 +/- 4.7 mmHg, 31.2 +/- 10.0 mmHg, 17.1 +/- 4.0 mmHg, 32.0 +/- 9.9 mmHg, 15.6 +/- 5.1 mmHg, 16.5 +/- 5.5 mmHg and 18.6 +/- 4.9 mmHg. The oxygen tension values above the neovascular tissue and above the optic disc showed statistically significantly higher values than that of midvitreous cavity. We assume this to be due to differences between the oxygen demand and supply on the neovascular tissue, because in these tissues there are large amounts of vessels and blood flow compared to oxygen consumption. Therefore residual oxygen causes oxygen flow from the neovascularization to the mid-vitreous. This outcome is one of the facts which supports the hypothesis that neovascular tissues develop in order to compensate for retinal ischemia by releasing oxygen.