Korean Journal of Ophthalmology  1995;9(2):89-95

doi:10.3341/kjo.1995.9.2.89

Experimentally designed glaucoma implant surgery with mitomycin C in rabbit.

Changwon KEE 1 ; Dong Ho YOUN

Affiliations

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Keywords

glaucoma implant; aqueous reservoir; ocular motility disorder; mitomycin C; infraocular pressure

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

An attempt was made to observe the possibility of controlling intraocular pressure (IOP) without hypotony and ocular motility disorder by installing an experimentally designed glaucoma implant through a small conjunctival incision with the aid of a stylet and maintaining the aqueous reservoir using mitomycin C (MMC). The implant was made of silicone tube, of which one end was occluded by glue and on the same end 4 check-valve-like slits were made. Thirty-five healthy white rabbits were used and subdivided into 4 groups. In groups I to III, implants having 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 mm slit lengths, respectively, were installed with MMC application in one eye of each of the 10 rabbits. In group IV, a 2 mm slit-length implant was installed without MMC in one eye of each of the 5 rabbits. Pneumatonometry and ultrasonography were performed to check the IOP and the formation of aqueous reservoir in the implanted eyes for 8 weeks. In group I through III, there was a statistically significant 4-5 mmHg pressure-lowering effect in the implanted eyes compared to the contralateral control eyes for 8 weeks. The aqueous reservoirs were observed throughout the follow-up period. In group IV, we could observe neither a pressure-lowering effect nor aqueous reservoir formation in the implanted eyes after 2 weeks postoperatively. Hypotony did not occur in implanted eyes in any of the groups. This study shows the possibility of IOP control by installing a specially designed glaucoma implant with application of MMC.