Abstract
Purpose :
Postoperative vitreous hemorrhage is a common, vision-impacting complication of vitrectomy. Intraocular tamponade with an artificial hydrogel at the end of surgery could possibly maintain transparency in the vitreous cavity, regardless of postoperative vitreous hemorrhage. This study was conducted to assess the ability of a non-swelling polyethylene glycol based artificial vitreous hydrogel to maintain transparency in the presence of vitreous hemorrhage in vitro.
Methods :
One milliliter of diluted blood at concentrations of 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1.25% was added to 1 mL each of polymerized hydrogel filled in plastic cuvettes (Gel + Blood group). Two milliliters of diluted blood at the same concentrations were prepared as controls (Blood group). Samples were left on a shaking apparatus. Spectral transmission curves of both groups were measured using a spectrophotometer before, and 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 28 days after, the start of the experiment. Percentage of transmittance in the visible light spectrum (400 - 700 nm) at each time point was compared between the two groups using Student’s t test.
Results :
Hydrogels (Gel + Blood group) maintained > 90% mean light transmission from the onset to day 7 of the experimental period. The mean light transmission at each concentration in the Blood group stayed at < 20% until day 7. Mean light transmission of hydrogel (Gel + Blood group) was statistically higher than diluted blood (Blood group) throughout the 28-day experimental period in the samples with 0.25, 0.5, and 1.25% diluted blood (p < 0.05).
Conclusions :
Non-swelling polyethylene glycol based artificial vitreous hydrogel maintained high optical transparency in the presence of blood through the study period. Injection of artificial hydrogel into the vitreous cavity at the end of surgery might help prevent or mitigate vitreous hemorrhage-associated postoperative visual loss.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.