In vitro sealing of clear corneal cataract incisions with a novel biodendrimer adhesive.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if a biodendrimer adhesive will seal a clear corneal cataract incision.

DESIGN

An experimental study in which 2.75-mm clear corneal cataract incisions were made in 8 human donor eyes. The corneas were mounted on an artificial anterior chamber. Leaking pressure was determined in 6 corneas. These corneas were then treated with adhesive and leaking pressure was again measured in 4 of them. India ink was then applied to the 2 remaining treated and the 2 untreated corneas. Chamber pressure was cycled between 100 and 0 mm Hg. Optical coherence tomography was used to visualize the wound dynamics of a ninth cornea treated with adhesive, mounted, and pressure cycled in a similar fashion.

RESULTS

The mean (SD) leaking pressure was 77 (14) mm Hg for the nonsealed wounds and 142 (22) mm Hg for the adhesive-sealed wounds. india ink entered the nonsealed wounds and anterior chamber when the intraocular pressure was cyclically raised and lowered, whereas no india ink entered the adhesive-sealed wounds. The optical coherence tomography-visualized corneal wound did gape under pressure cycling, but the adhesive remained intact and stretched to conform to the wound.

CONCLUSIONS

Biodendrimer adhesives may be used to seal cataract wounds to prevent leakage and influx of fluid.