RESUMO
PURPOSE: To describe the presence of iris neovascularization in a rabbit-model of retinal neovascularization induced by the intravitreal injection of latex-derived angiogenic fraction microspheres (LAF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight New Zealand rabbits received one intravitreal injection of PLGA (L-lactide-co-glycolide) microspheres with 50 ug of LAF in the right eye (Group A). Microspheres without the LAF (0.1 ml) were injected in controls (Group B; n = 8). Follow-up with clinical evaluation and iris fluorescein angiography was performed after 4 weeks when eyes were processed for light microscopy. RESULTS: All eyes from Group A showed significant vascular dilation, conjunctival hyperemia and neovascularization on the iris surface, after LAF injection. No vascular changes were observed in Group B. CONCLUSIONS: The intravitreal injection of microspheres containing the LAF can induce rubeosis iridis in rabbits and could be used as a simple experimental model for iris neovascularization.