The effect of intraoperative injection of hyaluronan under a one-piece glaucoma filtration implant in the rabbit eye.

The effect of a single intraoperative injection of hyaluronan on intraocular pressure (IOP) and postsurgical tissue healing was evaluated on 18 rabbits with an aqueous drainage implant. During the follow-up period IOP was recorded and analysed. Furthermore, inflammatory reaction and appearance of the fibrous tissue around the implants were studied in histological sections. In both the hyaluronan and control groups the operation lowered the average IOP statistically significantly for the whole follow-up period when compared with preoperative values. From days 7 to 60 the mean IOP values of the hyaluronan injected eyes stayed at a lower level than in the control eyes, but with no statistical difference between the 2 groups. The connective tissue layer around the implants appeared less dense during the first 17 postoperative days in the sodium-hyaluronate group; in addition, the inflammatory cell reaction showed a tendency to remain acute longer.