Corneal endothelial cell damage from glaucoma drainage device materials.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the level of endothelial damage caused by contact with materials used in contemporary glaucoma drainage devices and a phosphorylcholine polymer-coated PMMA (PC-PMMA). METHODS Standard-sized discs of silicone, PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), and PC-PMMA (n = 6) were gently lowered onto cultured bovine corneal endothelial (BCE) monolayers using a vacuum suction device. A 2.4-g stainless steel cloning ring weight was then placed on top of each disc. The weights and discs were removed using a vacuum suction device and forceps after 5 minutes of contact. A 0.4% trypan blue solution was used to stain the cell monolayer to visualize the area of cell damage. The total area of damage in each well (including the area stripped of cells) was measured using an image processor and expressed as a percentage of the total disc area to derive a damage coefficient for each material. Damage coefficients for different materials were compared using Bonferroni corrected analysis of variance (ANOVA).


RESULTS
Percentage of areas of damage (mean +/- SD) after standardized contact were as follows: PMMA, 5.95 +/- 4.60%; silicone, 3.08 +/- 2.68%; PC-PMMA, 0.15 +/- 0.25%. PMMA caused marked endothelial cell damage. PC-PMMA discs produced a significantly lower level (p = 0.04) of endothelial cell trauma.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that PC coating technology may be effective in reducing the rate of corneal endothelial failure following GDD implantation.
Lim
K Sheng
KS
Institute of Opthalmology, University of Brighton, Brighton, United Kingdom. shenglim@email.com
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002460:Cell Line; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery*; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D011108:Polymers; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012828:Silicones / Q000009:adverse effects*
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011108:Polymers; D012828:Silicones; D010767:Phosphorylcholine; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate