The Inflammatory and Foreign Body Reaction of Polymethyl Methacrylate Glaucoma Drainage Device in the Rabbit Eye.

Purpose: To assess the safety and tissue response of a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) glaucoma drainage device (GDD) in the rabbit eye.

Methods: Specially constructed PMMA GDD devices were implanted into rabbit eyes and evaluated histopathologically following euthanasia on days 5, 30, and 60 after implantation surgery. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, and periodic acid-Schiff were used to stain tissue specimens dissected from the surgical site. Inflammatory cell count and capsule thickness measurements were performed.

Results: Three rabbits were sacrificed on day 5, 3 on day 30, and 4 on day 60. Macrophage and lymphocyte counts increased from day 5 to day 30 then decreased ( = 0.0000) with greater counts seen in the superior regions. At day 30, a fibrous capsule had formed around the plate area. Fibroblast counts increased significantly between day 5 to day 30 and again to day 60 ( = 0.001) with greatest numbers anteriorly. The inferior capsule thickness at day 60 was 243 µm (standard deviation, 120; 95% confidence interval: 53-433). The superior capsule thickness was 388 µm (standard deviation, 136; 95% confidence interval: 172-604). No adverse reactions were seen.

Conclusions: Histopathologically, the inflammatory response toward this PMMA glaucoma drainage device was comparable to other reported GDDs. No accentuated response or adverse event was seen suggesting that PMMA may be useful as a GDD material.

Translational Relevance: An affordable, locally built GDD is needed in Indonesia because of the high prevalence of severe glaucoma. This rabbit study is a significant step toward justifying the use of PMMA as a GDD material. PMMA is cheap and easily manufactured and sterilized in developing economies.