Laser Flare Meters

The clinical application of laser flare meters was described. The instrument was developed for concurrent quantitative determinations of the sprout and the number of cells in the aqueous humor. Diurnal variations in the watery sprout were demonstrated, as well as an increase in sprout with age. Simultaneous study with the flare cell laser meter and slit lamp microscopy in cases of uveitis has revealed that the first instrument is superior to the second in performing a quantitative evaluation of inflammation in the anterior segment of the eye. A follow-up study of postoperative inflammation was performed in patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation. The flash cell laser meter has made it possible to quantitatively determine the flash and the number of cells in aqueous humor. This ability differentiates the instrument from the slit lamp microscope, as well as from instruments previously developed for similar purposes. The laser flash cell meter is a recently developed useful tool for investigating the pathophysiology of the eye.