Ultrastructural analyses of iris biopsies in 17 cases of uveitis with different etiology revealed that all cells involved in immunological reactions are present. Many plasmacells and lymphocytes, but also macrophages and mastcells are found. Destruction of cells and even necrosis as well as damage of blood vessels are run. No specific germs could be demonstrated and etiology was not further elucidated. But there remains no doubt on the immunological nature of uveitis.
Lenses of rabbits with high titers of homologous lens antibodies showed no lesions, even after repeated paracentesis of the anterior chamber in a number of such animals. In these instances, lens antibodies were shown to be present in both the primary and secondary aqueous humors. A small group of rabbits with high homologous anti-lens antibody titers were successfully bred. These had been immunized with adult rabbit lens pools in Freund's adjuvants, and had high antibody levels throughout pregnancy. No significant congenital lens lesions were found when these 18 young from 3 litters were compared with the 17 young from 3 litters of mothers who had no detectable anti-lens antibody through gestation. The latter group of does had received the equivalent doses of homologous lens in saline. Patients with cataract did not show demonstrable anti-lens antibodies in their serum when tested by the agar precipitin technic against cataractous human lens homogenates.
The three classical angiomatoses of the retina are described on the basis of the clinical picture. If early diagnosis is possible, the otherwise inevitable progression to exudative retinal detachment and secondary glaucoma may be avoided through extensive coagulation by laser, xenon or cryopexy. - The prognosis is best in Leber's retinitis; it in much poorer in cases of von Hippel-Lindau angiomatosis and primary Coats' disease.
