Abstract
Purpose :
We have developed a self-assembling peptide gel (SAPG) as a potential device for providing a clear operative field in the ocular surgery. SAPG can keep an operative field clear, blocking blood coming in there. However it is still unknown whether SAPG is safe in any ocular surgery. The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety of SAPG applied in the trabeculectomy.
Methods :
Nine healthy New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits underwent a trabeculectomy on the right eye. Three rabbits of them underwent the trabeculectomy using the SAPG. Following a conjunctival incision, the SAPG was applied on the sclera. A sclera flap was created through the SAPG, and the SAPG was subsequently removed. And then they underwent usual trabeculectomy combined with mitomycin C (MMC) (SM group). Other three rabbits underwent usual trabeculectomy combined with MMC without using the SAPG (M group). And other three rabbits underwent usual trabeculectomy without the usage of MMC or SAPG (C group). Examination with a slit-lamp microscopy (SL F7, Topcon co. ltd., Japan), a tonometer (TONOVET, iCare Finland Oy, Finland ) and an anterior segment Optical Coherent Tomography (SS-1000, Tomey co. ltd, Japan) was performed on each eye pre-operatively and on the post-operative day (POD) 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. The statistical analysis was performed with Origin.
Results :
Intraocular pressure (IOP) was significantly lower in the SM and M groups than in the C group on POD 21(P = 0.002, ANOVA). The height of the bleb was also significantly reduced in the C group than in the SM and M groups on POD 21(P = 0.03, ANOVA). No other complications were observed in any of the groups.
Conclusions :
We have demonstrated that the self-assembling peptide gel is safe in the trabeculectomy in the short-term. However, further investigation is needed on the long-term safety of this technique.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.