An analysis of subretinal fluid in bullous retinal detachment.

A patient with bilateral bullous retinal detachment underwent drainage of the subretinal fluid. The analysis of the subretinal fluid revealed a high protein concentration--17.4 g/dl OD, 27.5 g/dl OS--which was 3-5 times higher than that of the patient's serum. The protein fractionations of the subretinal fluid were almost the same as those of the serum. These findings may well explain the shifting fluid and support the theory that bullous retinal detachment is caused by the breakdown of retinal pigment epithelial function as a barrier between the choroid and retina.