Application of thermo-setting gel as artificial vitreous.

PURPOSE: In this study, we produced a rabbit model and investigated the safety of intravitreous injection of a thermo-setting gel (TG) to determine whether TG can be used as artificial vitreous.

METHODS

Ten male Japanese white rabbits were used. After performing vitrectomy in a unilateral eye, we injected 1 ml of WTG-127 into the vitreous cavity. The contralateral control eye was not given ophthalmic solution or surgery. Each eye was examined and intraocular pressure (IOP) and the electroretinogram (ERG) were evaluated. On day 28, all eyes were enucleated and examined.

RESULTS

No abnormal findings and no elevation of IOP were observed. On the ERG, no significant difference in the latency and amplitude of either the a wave or b wave was observed. Histopathological examination of the retinal tissue showed no abnormalities. In the presence of a retinal tear, under the detached retina a drift of TG through the tear was observed in a few animals.

CONCLUSIONS

In a rabbit model, the safety of using an intravitreous injection of thermo-setting gel as artificial vitreous was confirmed by ophthalmoscopic, electrophysiological, and histological studies for a relatively short observation period. However, TG injection cannot be expected to provide a tamponade effect.