Abstract
Purpose :
To evaluate the feasibility of using a foldable capsular vitreous body (FCVB) as an expander to maintain eyeball shape and stimulate orbital growth in an immature rabbit model.
Methods :
Rabbits were randomized into 3 groups and underwent left eye operations at 4 weeks old. Group A: Intraocular FCVB implantation. Group B: Eyeball atrophy model. Group C: Enucleation with no implant. FCVB-implanted eyes underwent serial implant inflation to a final volume of 1.4 ml. All rabbits were euthanized at 20 weeks and wet skulls prepared. Eyeballs were enucleated and their diameters were measured. The orbital volume, height, and width were measured in the wet skull specimens. A histopathological examination was performed.
Results :
The mean operated/contralateral ratio of the orbital volume was significantly larger in group A (97.9%) than in groups B (88.0%) and C (79.9%). Compared with fellow eyes, there was no significant difference between group A and the follows eyes in the eyeball diameter, the orbital height or width, while groups B and C were smaller than their follow eyes respectively. Group A showed a significant increase in the eyeball diameter, orbital height and volume when compare with the growth obtained by groups B and C. The orbital width in group A was significant larger than Group C. Histopathology showed no obvious abnormality in the FCVB-implanted eyes.
Conclusions :
Intraocular FCVB implantation shows promise as an expander to maintain eyeball shape and stimulate eyeball growth in immature rabbit eyes. Insufficient eyeball volume could affect orbital growth at an early age.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.