Process for generating plasmin in the vitreous of the eye and inducing separation of the posterior hyaloid from the retina

A process for inducing substantially complete posterior vitreous detachment in the eye of a patient comprising the steps of:

• introducing recombinant lysine-plasminogen in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier at a concentration of about 200 μg/0.1 ml or less into the vitreous of the eye of a patient in need thereof,
• introducing recombinant urokinase in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier at a dose of about 200 IU or less, and
• thereafter introducing an expanding gaseous adjuvant into the vitreous, said recombinant lysine-plasminogen, recombinant urokinase, and gaseous adjuvant being introduced into said vitreous in an amount to induce substantially complete separation of posterior hyaloid from the inner limiting membrane in said eye to form a vitreoretinal surface substantially devoid of vitreous collagen without removing said vitreous from said eye, wherein each of said components of said composition are introduced into the eye in a non-toxic amount substantially without inflammation.

The process of claim 28, wherein said gaseous adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of sulfurhexafluoride (SF6), air, and mixtures thereof.

A process for inducing substantially complete posterior vitreous detachment in the eye of a patient in need thereof to prevent or inhibit retinal tears and retinal detachment, comprising the step of:

• introducing lysine-plasminogen into the vitreous of the eye of a patient in need thereof, introducing a recombinant plasminogen activator into said vitreous, and introducing a gaseous adjuvant material into said vitreous, said lysine-plasminogen, recombinant plasminogen activator, and gaseous adjuvant material being introduced into said vitreous in an amount to induce substantial separation of posterior hyaloid from the inner limiting membrane in said eye where a vitreo-retinal surface is substantially devoid of vitreous collagen to prevent or inhibit retinal hemorrhaging, retinal tears and retinal detachment, wherein each of said components of said composition are introduced into the eye in a non-toxic amount substantially without inflammation.