Hydration stability of intracorneal hydrogel implants.
A hydrogel intracorneal lens for refractive keratoplasty must have predictable and stable optics when implanted in the corneal stroma. A series of experiments was performed to evaluate the hydrogel hydration stability when in the corneal stromal environment. Hydrogel ICLs of 54%, 63%, 66% and 71% water content showed no loss of hydration (by weight) after one week in the rabbit corneal stroma. In vitro experiments with hydrogel discs of 56%, 65%, 69.5% and 75% water content were subjected to swelling pressures ranging from 55 to 150 mmHg in a suction chamber. Only the hydrogel of 75% water content showed a significant loss of hydration at the physiologic swelling pressure of 55 mmHg. This study shows that hydrogel materials with up to 69.5% water content can be expected to be dimensionally stable when used in keratorefractive surgery.
D000818:Animals; D001834:Body Water / Q000378:metabolism*; D003315:Cornea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D003319:Corneal Stroma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D004343:Drug Implants; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits
D004343:Drug Implants; D020136:Hydrogel, Polyethylene Glycol Dimethacrylate; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols