Abstract
Purpose: :
The Vidaurri Corneal Ring (VCR) is a new device to deliver and maintain solutions confined to the surface of the cornea while in place, preventing eyedrops to expose other areas of the ocular surface. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after the application of the VCR at different vacuum levels effected by a syringe and a plunger.
Methods: :
10 freshly enucleated cadaver eyes from New Zealand white rabbits were used for our trial. IOP was maintained with a line connected to the anterior chamber and a bottle with a predetermined height. A digital manometer (Sper Scientific, Scottsdale, AZ) connected through a 25-gauge needle in the anterior chamber was used to perform baseline IOP monitoring and after every ml of suction of the VCR.
Results: :
The mean baseline IOP was 11.92 mmHg (SD 2.11). After applying the VCR with 1 ml, 2ml, 3ml, 4 ml and 5ml vacuum, the pressure increased to a mean of 22.12 mmHg (SD 3.09), 24.23 mmHg (SD 2.82), 25.94 mmHg (SD 3.46), 26.63 mmHg (SD 3.51), and 27.03 mmHg (SD 3.53), respectively (p<0.01). At all vacuum levels, there was no leakage of fluid outside of the area covered by the ring.
Conclusions: :
The study showed that a mild IOP increase occurs after applying the VCR at all suction levels. However, the pressure increase is only marginally high, which may be clinically insignificant for a short-time application of the medications to the cornea, such as riboflavin during collagen cross-linking procedure.
Keywords: intraocular pressure • cornea: clinical science • keratoconus