The effect of C₃F₈ gas on corneal endothelial cells in rabbits.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular effects of perfluoropropane gas (C(3)F(8)) in the anterior chamber of rabbit eyes in relation to the gas concentration.

METHODS

Twenty rabbit eyes were randomly divided into four groups (20%, 15%, and 10% C(3)F(8) gas groups, and an air control group). After injection of 0.3 ml of each gas concentration into the anterior chamber, endothelial damage was evaluated by specular microscopic analysis. The main outcome measurements were endothelial cell density, hexagonality, coefficient of variation, corneal thickness, and intraocular pressure (IOP) 1 day, 1 week, and 2 weeks after injection. Two weeks after injection, transmission electronic microscopy was performed to evaluate the structural integrity.

RESULTS

The 20% group had a significant decrease in endothelial cell density (P = 0.023), hexagonality (P = 0.031), and increase in corneal thickness (P = 0.045) from baseline to 2 weeks after injection, whereas the other groups exhibited no significant differences. The 20% group had a significant increase in IOP 1 week after injection (P = 0.041). Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the 20% group had a severe flat cell configuration with a damaged intracellular organization.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk of endothelial cell damage and elevation in IOP was greater in the 20% C(3)F(8) group than in the 15% or 10% C(3)F(8) groups. Therefore, an appropriate concentration of C(3)F(8) gas is needed for different surgical purposes.