Rafał Leszczyński1, Ewa Stodolak-Zych2, Teresa Gumuła2, Jarosław Wieczorek3, Yuriy Kosenyuk3, Krzysztof Pawlicki4, Stanisław Błażewicz2. 1. Department of Ophthalmology Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland. 2. Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland. 3. Department of Biotechnology of Animal Reproduction, National Research Institute of Animal Production Balice, Poland. 4. Department of Medical Biophysics Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of an implant made of a terpolymer (PTFE-PVDF-PP) on the condition of rabbit eyes during a one year observation period. METHODS: The implant in the shape of an equilateral triangle (3 mm side length) was manufactured from a thin hydrophobic porous membrane. There were evaluated 40 eyes of 20 rabbits. The animals had non-penetrating very deep sclerectomy (NPVDS) performed, with insertion of an implant in the form of a triangular thin membrane. The control group consisted of 20 eyes where the animals had NPVDS performed without implant insertion. The evaluations included the study of the anterior part of the eye together with photographic documentation. Histopathological examination of the eyes 52 weeks after NPVDS procedure has been made. The process of wound healing was comparable in both groups. RESULTS: The evaluation of the rabbits did not reveal any acute process of intraocular inflammation. After 12 month period of observation, no statistically significant differences in the process of wound healing or status of eyes were found between the groups. An analysis of fibrous connective tissue attachment to the implant showed that its layer was not thick and did not differ significantly from the control. The procedure of very deep sclerectomy and insertion of a polymer implant were well tolerated by the rabbit eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo results indicate that the hydrophobic implant in the form of a membrane can serve as a sclera implant after further study.
PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of an implant made of a terpolymer (PTFE-PVDF-PP) on the condition of rabbit eyes during a one year observation period. METHODS: The implant in the shape of an equilateral triangle (3 mm side length) was manufactured from a thin hydrophobic porous membrane. There were evaluated 40 eyes of 20 rabbits. The animals had non-penetrating very deep sclerectomy (NPVDS) performed, with insertion of an implant in the form of a triangular thin membrane. The control group consisted of 20 eyes where the animals had NPVDS performed without implant insertion. The evaluations included the study of the anterior part of the eye together with photographic documentation. Histopathological examination of the eyes 52 weeks after NPVDS procedure has been made. The process of wound healing was comparable in both groups. RESULTS: The evaluation of the rabbits did not reveal any acute process of intraocular inflammation. After 12 month period of observation, no statistically significant differences in the process of wound healing or status of eyes were found between the groups. An analysis of fibrous connective tissue attachment to the implant showed that its layer was not thick and did not differ significantly from the control. The procedure of very deep sclerectomy and insertion of a polymer implant were well tolerated by the rabbit eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The in vivo results indicate that the hydrophobic implant in the form of a membrane can serve as a sclera implant after further study.