Abstract
Purpose :
Enophthalmos, the downward/posterior displacement of the globe, can occur as a result of injury and/or surgery to the orbit and its contents. Functionally, enophthalmos can cause ocular surface dryness and double vision. Aesthetically, it can cause enough disfigurement that the patient would seek treatment. Currently, no one single standard material for correction of enophthalmos is ideal. While some are rigid and provide structural support, they can also complications of migration and compression of normal tissue resulting in visual dysfunction. We have developed a thermo-responsive hydrogel that solidifies after injection. We feel this hydrogel may represent an ideal material for the treatment of enophthalmos.
Methods :
A rabbit model is used in determining the feasibility of this hydrogel in the orbit. A floor fracture of the rabbit orbit is created using a crush model. Globe projection measured on CT scan, eye motility, and signs of inflammation were used as clinical markers for comparing gel-treated groups vs control groups. CT scans were also used to determine the location and characteristics of the gel in the orbit in-vivo.
Results :
Rabbits with floor fracture and resulting enophthalmos showed improved globe projection on CT scan after injection of the hydrogel. There were no clinical signs of inflammation or abnormalities in extraocular motility following hydrogel injection.
Conclusions :
This thermo-responsive drug-eluting gel is well tolerated in the orbital tissue and appears to provide structural support of the globe with improvement in enophthalmos.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.