Significance of Bruch's membrane in the creation of iatrogenic chorioretinal venous anastomosis.

Iatrogenic retinal to choroidal vein anastomoses, as a method of bypassing retinal venous occlusions has been reported in dogs in which Bruch's membrane is poorly formed. In order to determine whether chorioretinal venous anastomoses can be induced in an animal with a Bruch's membrane that is well developed as in humans, pigmented rats were chosen. A high intensity, small spot size argon green laser beam of 514 nm was used to induce the anastomosis. Three out of 5 rat eyes developed a retinal vein to choroidal vein anastomosis. The success rate of iatrogenic retinal to choroidal vein anastomoses in the rat was comparable to that obtained in the dog. This study suggests that Bruch's membrane was not significant in the creation of an iatrogenic chorioretinal venous anastomosis.