[Study on collagen viscoelastic substance as an auxiliary agent in anterior segment surgery--ocular irritation study by replacement of the aqueous humor in rabbits].

PURPOSE

Collagen solution was assessed as a possible viscoelastic substance in anterior segment surgery, in terms of the depth of the anterior chamber and ocular irritation.

METHODS

The depth of the anterior chamber of enucleated rabbit eyes was evaluated 5 minutes after injection of collagen solution. For ocular irritation test, the aqueous humor of rabbits was replaced with collagen using sodium hyaluronate (HEALON) and phosphate buffer (PB) as controls. Follow-up clinical examinations with hand-slit-lamp-microscopy, tonometry, pachymetry, and specular microscopy were performed for 7 days or 28 days, and then aqueous humor, corneal endothelium, and eye tissues were evaluated by gel electrophoresis, scanning electron microscopy, and light microscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

2.5% to 3% collagen solution was found to be optimal for maintaining the depth of the anterior chamber. No significant differences in clinical findings such as anterior chamber and corneal thickness or in biochemical and histological findings were observed among collagen-, hyaluronate- and PB-treated groups, except for intraocular pressure which was increased in the hyaluronate-treated group, but not in the collagen-treated group.

CONCLUSION

Collagen specifically prepared for this study seems to be an excellent auxiliary agent for anterior segment surgery, providing an appropriate anterior chamber with little ocular irritation.