Experimental study of silicone membrane implanted beneath the scleral flap during filtering surgery in rabbits / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

ABSTRACT

·AIM: To investigate the efficacy and security of the silicone membrane implant through observing intraocular pressure, filtering blebs and histopathologic results.·METHODS; Forty rabbits were randomly divided into 4 groups. Each group consisted of 10 rabbits. Trabecu-lectomy and silicone membrane implantation were performed in one eye of each rabbit, while the other eye was only performed trabeculectomy as control. The change of intraocular pressure, filtering blebs were observed postoperatively. And each eye had undergone histopathologic examination.·RESULTS:The duration of low intraocular pressure and existence of filtering blebs in implanted eyes was longer than that in controlled eyes. Light microscopy revealed that patent drainage tract and biting site could be seen in silicone membrane implanted eye. The activity and regularity of fibroblast proliferation in implanted eyes and controlled eyes were similar. Excessive expression of fibroblast proliferation was not induced by silicone membrane.·CONCLUSION: Characterized by safety, effectiveness and simplicity, silicone membrane implantation can act as a new drainage surgery.KEYWORDS silicone membrane; drainage surgery;intraocular pressure