The blood-aqueous barrier and its permeability for proteins of different molecular weight.

In aqueous humors and sera from 44 patients with cataracts, albumin, IgG, and alpha-1-antitrypsin were measured using radial immunodiffusion. The mean concentrations of the three proteins were significantly smaller than values found in aqueous humors taken post mortem, but corresponded well to values found in cerebrospinal fluid. No statistically significant difference was found between men and women, normotensives and hypertensives, and patients with or without myopia of high degree (greater than 6 diopters). A slight increase in protein concentrations in older patients and a relative decrease of alpha-1-antitrypsin is described. The aqueous humor-serum quotients of the different proteins showed a higher correlation than did the concentration of the proteins in aqueous humors.