The modulation of ocular growth in rabbits with peripheral retinal ablation.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effects of transcleral cryotherapy and laser photocoagulation of anterior retina on ocular growth.


METHODS
Twenty-one rabbits underwent transcleral cryotherapy or indirect ophthalmoscopic laser photocoagulation of the anterior retina on one of their eyes between 2 and 8 weeks of age.


RESULTS
After the rabbits were killed between 3 and 6 months of age, treated rabbit eyes were found to be significantly smaller in axial length (P < 0.001), average equatorial diameter (P < 0.01), average corneal diameter (P < 0.05), and in total ocular volume (P < 0.01). The difference in eye size was not due to lowered intraocular pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that these treatments slow growth of both the anterior and posterior segment of rabbit eyes.
Whitmore
W G
WG
Department of Ophthalmology, New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, New York.
Curtin
B J
BJ
Fox
D
D
D000818:Animals; D000886:Anthropometry; D002829:Choroid / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D003315:Cornea / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D003452:Cryosurgery; D005123:Eye / Q000254:growth & development*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery