Long-term follow-up of a supradescemetic keratoprosthesis in rabbits: an immunofluorescence study.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical and immunohistological outcome of two different non-penetrating keratoprosthesis (KPro) implanted in non-injured rabbit corneas.

Materials And Methods: Three rabbits underwent implantation of a pHEMA-MMA(34) synthetic cornea in the supradescemetic space, and PMMA synthetic corneas in the supradescemetic space and within the central stroma. Animals were followed for at least 24 months before euthanasia.

Comparison of macular function and visual fields after membrane blue or infracyanine green staining in vitreoretinal surgery.

Background: To compare possible toxic effects of membrane blue and infracyanine green used as vital stains in macular surgery. Vital stains are used in vitreoretinal surgery to perform peeling of the internal limiting membrane and idiopathic epiretinal membrane. There are many controversial studies about their toxicity, safety, and their effects on the retinal pigment epithelium and the neuroretinal elements.

Corneal stroma regeneration in felines after supradescemetic keratoprosthesis implantation.

Purpose: To show corneal regeneration in 3 cats that underwent lamellar keratectomy (90%) depth during supradescemetic keratoprosthetic implantation.

Methods: Three 2-year-old cats that underwent spontaneous keratoprosthesis extrusion between 15 and 150 days after implanting a supradescemetic prosthesis into their right eyes were studied. Corneal structures and stroma thickness were evaluated by slit-lamp photographs, pachymetry, and confocal microscopy.

Trabecular meshwork alteration and intraocular pressure change following pulsed near-infrared laser trabeculoplasty in cats.

Background And Objective: To comparatively assess the safety and variation in intraocular pressure (IOP) of two pulsed near-infrared lasers (titanium:sapphire and alexandrite) for laser trabeculoplasty versus conventional blue-green argon laser trabeculoplasty in an animal model.

Materials And Methods: The left eyes of 15 healthy cats received a 180 degree laser trabeculoplasty treatment: 5 with a titanium:sapphire laser, 5 with an alexandrite laser, and 5 with an argon laser. Preoperatively and postoperatively, all animals underwent tonometry, gonioscopy, and slit-lamp examination.

Ex vivo evaluation of Tono-Pen and pneumotonometry in cat eyes.

Purpose: To evaluate the validity and intraobserver reliability of intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements with both pneumotonometry and the Tono-Pen in a closed ex vivo system in cat eyes.

Methods: IOP was increased step by step in 5 enucleated cat eyes, while taking IOP measurements with the Tono-Pen and pneumotonometry. The outcomes were compared to readings of a digital manometer simultaneously measuring the actual pressure in the anterior chamber.

Biocompatibility of a nonpenetrating synthetic cornea in vascularized rabbit corneas.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess feasibility and biocompatibility of a lamellar, nonperforating supraDescemetic Synthetic Cornea (sDSC) implanted in rabbit eyes after a corneal injury.

Methods: Corneal vascularization and scarring was induced in the right eye of 15 rabbits by application of 1-heptanol and complete surgical removal of the limbus. An sDSC (7-mm diameter, 450-microm-thick optical zone, 100-microm-thick outer flange) was implanted after 45 +/- 5 days.

Biological response to a supraDescemetic synthetic cornea in rabbits.

Objective: To evaluate the biocompatibility of a novel nonpenetrating keratoprosthesis (supraDescemetic synthetic cornea) in a rabbit model.

Methods: Seven rabbits received a supraDescemetic synthetic cornea (7-mm diameter, 350-microm-thick optical zone, 100-microm-thick peripheral flange) in their healthy right eyes. A surgical technique was developed that allowed implantation of the device on top of the bare Descemet membrane.