Poly (triethylenglycol monomethacrylate) and poly (glycerol monomethacrylate) cross-linked gel as potential viscoelastics for intraoperative use.
BACKGROUND
The highly swelling poly (glycerol monomethacrylate) gel (polyGLYMA) and hydrophilic polymer poly (triethylenglycol monomethacrylate (polyTEGMA) were tested as potential viscoelastics for intraoperative use in anterior segment surgery.


METHODS
PolyGLYMA was implanted into the anterior chamber in 5 rabbits, and 40% polyTEGMA in 16 rabbits. The eyes were enucleated 1 week to 3 months after the operation. The corneal endothelium was examined with specular microscopy, and then the whole eye histopathologically.


RESULTS
In all eyes of the polyGLYMA group, the clinical findings were characterized by a marked ciliary injection and severe secondary glaucoma, and the histologic ones by a marked inflammatory infiltration and thickening of Descemet's membrane in the anterior chamber angle. Specular microscopy revealed a decrease in the endothelial cell density and polymorphism of the endothelial cells. In the polyTEGMA group, the anterior segment and the fundus were physiologic all the time, and specular microscopy and histologic findings showed no degenerative and/or inflammatory changes.


CONCLUSIONS
PolyGLYMA proved unsuitable for intracameral application in rabbits. The new polymer polyTEGMA is characterized by high biologic tolerance after its implantation into the anterior chamber of rabbits. PolyTEGMA 40% might be considered as a potential viscoelastic material in humans.
Karel
I
I
1st Department of Ophthalmology, General Faculty Hospital, 1st Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Kalvodová
B
B
Filipec
M
M
Bohácová
E
E
Soucek
P
P
Povýsil
C
C
Vacík
J
J
Tlustáková
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000601:surgery*; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D004548:Elasticity; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D008297:Male; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D014783:Viscosity
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005782:Gels; D011109:Polymethacrylic Acids