Feasibility and safety of laser treatments in eyes with an intraocular implantable miniature telescope.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the feasibility and safety of laser treatments in rabbit eyes fitted with an implantable miniature telescope (IMT).


METHODS
The Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Tel-Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.


METHODS
In this study, IMTs were implanted in the capsular bag in 19 eyes of 19 pigmented rabbits. After the rabbits recovered from surgery, neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser iridectomy (4 eyes), Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy (8 eyes), or argon laser photocoagulation of the retina (6 eyes) was performed. One day after the laser treatment, the rabbits were killed. An observer blinded to the treatment received by individual rabbits examined the enucleated eyes histopathologically to evaluate the laser lesions and their effect on ocular tissues.


RESULTS
Laser iridectomy and laser posterior capsulotomy were carried out without difficulty. Laser photocoagulation of the posterior pole and the retinal periphery could be accomplished only when the laser beam was aimed around the optic of the IMT. It was not possible to carry out effective laser treatment of the retina through the IMT's optic. Treatment was difficult when adhesions between the pupil margin and the IMT optic were encountered.


CONCLUSIONS
Standard laser treatments in eyes with an IMT in the capsular bag were feasible in pigmented rabbits, whose eyes are a good model for the eyes of human patients. Laser treatment of the retina was difficult to perform when adhesions between the pupil margin and the IMT were present.
Rosner
Mordechai
M
Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Sheba Medical Center, 52621 Tel-Hashomer, Israel. mrosner@post.tau.ac.il
Ben-Simon
Gai
G
Sachs
Dan
D
D000818:Animals; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007498:Iris / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012449:Safety