A novel approach for 25-gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy to evaluate vitreous substitutes in rabbits.

AIM: To improve the standard three-port vitrectomy for establishing and evaluating an endotamponade model in rabbits.

METHODS

Three ports were prepared near the third eyelid of rabbits, and the infusion port was placed at the inferior nasal quadrant with the inserted cannula linking with a self-designed handheld rigid infusion catheter. All right eyes of rabbits underwent a modified 25-gauge vitrectomy and were subsequently filled with balanced salt solution, silicone oil, and eight-arm polyethylene glycols (8-arm PEGs) hydrogel separately for comparison. Ophthalmic examinations were performed regularly to record the changes after the surgery.

RESULTS

Successful vitrectomy was achieved among 44 chinchilla rabbits. The mean operation time was 4.51±1.25min. Four eyes (9.1%) presented limited lens touch and two eyes (4.5%) showed retinal touch during surgery. Incision leakage was found in three eyes (6.8%) after surgery. There was no endophthalmitis, hemorrhage, or retinal detachment during the observation period and ophthalmic examinations after the implantation of vitreous substitutes.

CONCLUSION

The modified technique of the standard vitrectomy applied in the endotamponade model in rabbits shows excellent safety and practicality.