Biocompatibility and retinal support of a foldable capsular vitreous body injected with saline or silicone oil implanted in rabbit eyes.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate over a 180-day period the biocompatibility and retinal support of a foldable capsular vitreous body injected with either saline or silicone oil implanted in rabbit eyes.

Methods: A standard three-port pars plana vitrectomy was performed, and foldable capsular vitreous bodies were implanted into the vitreous cavity of rabbit eyes (n = 18). Silicone oil tamponade was used as the control group (n = 5). Of the foldable capsular vitreous body-implanted eyes, either saline (n = 9) or silicone oil (n = 9) was injected into the foldable capsular vitreous body to support the retina. The treated eyes were examined using a slit lamp with a non-contact slit-lamp lens, a tonopen, a non-contact specular microscope and a B-scan ultrasound during the 180-day implantation period. A histological examination was performed at 90 and 180 days.

Results: During the 180-day implantation period, no significant corneal keratopathy or intraocular inflammation was noted, and the intraocular pressure (IOP) and corneal endothelial numbers remained steady among the three groups. B-scan ultrasonography showed a smoothly increased echogenicity in front of the retina in group of foldable capsular vitreous bodies injected with saline. Gross examination showed that the foldable capsular vitreous bodies injected with saline or silicone oil smoothly supported the retina. The saline or silicone oil inside the foldable capsular vitreous body was homogeneous, transparent and filled the foldable capsular vitreous body. Histological examination showed no obvious abnormality of the cornea, ciliary body or retina in the foldable capsular vitreous body-implanted eyes.

Conclusions: These results suggest that foldable capsular vitreous bodies injected with either saline or silicone oil showed good biocompatibility and retinal support in rabbit eyes over a 180-day implantation time.