Abstract
Purpose :
A novel critical hydrogel is an innovative gel based on a totally new material concept, which can resolve the following major problems inherent in conventional counterparts: swelling, gelation time, inadequate elasticity, and cytotoxicity. This study was conducted to examine the effect of this critical hydrogel for sealing retinal breaks and intraocular tamponade in experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in rabbit eyes.
Methods :
Experimental retinal detachment with a break was made during a 25-gauge vitrectomy in 4 rabbit eyes. After removal of the vitreous with a vitrectomy cutter, air-fluid exchange was performed in the vitreous cavity. Following air–fluid exchange, the critical hydrogel was injected into the vitreous with a 27-gauge needle. Intraocular pressure, ophthalmologic examination, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were carried out at 3, 7, 28, and 150 days postoperatively.
Results :
No elevation of intraocular pressure was observed throughout the observation period. Based on slit-lamp examinations and fundus photography using indirect ophthalmoscopy, no retinal detachment, significant inflammation, toxic reaction, vitreous haemorrhage, retinitis, or endophthalmitis was observed. The OCT revealed no retinal detachment or retinal edema, and the retinal microstructure was not morphologically damaged. The critical hydrogel remained transparent throughout the follow-up period in vitreous cavity of all eyes.
Conclusions :
Throughout the experiments, our new critical hydrogel successfully sealed retinal breaks and repaired experimental rhegmatogenous retinal detachment. This critical gel was found to be beneficial to treatment for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.