Evaluation of the effects of hydrodissection with antimitotics using a rabbit model of Soemmering's ring formation.
BACKGROUND
Regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the capsular bag still is the most frequent complication after cataract surgery. We aimed to evaluate the effects of hydrodissection with low doses of antimitotics on the overall regeneration/proliferation of lens material in rabbit eyes, using a model allowing the lens material to be confined to the equatorial region of the capsular bag, facilitating its quantification.


METHODS
Twelve albino rabbits underwent bilateral phacoemulsification. Their eyes were randomized to receive 0.4 cc of balanced salt solution, 5-fluorouracil (12.5 mg/mL) or mitomycin C (0.1 mg/mL) during hydrodissection. They were left aphakic, so the capsulorhexis would fuse with the posterior capsule postoperatively. After 4 weeks, killing/enucleation was performed. Regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the equatorial capsular bag (Soemmering's ring) was graded from the Miyake-Apple view (0-4). Its area was also calculated (microm(2)) from direct measurements performed on histological sections.


RESULTS
The capsulorhexis margin fused with the peripheral posterior capsule, so the central posterior capsule remained clear. There was no significant difference among the groups (Kruskal-Wallis test) regarding Soemmering's ring gross grading (P = 0.511), number of lens epithelial cell layers lining the inner surface of the capsular bag (P = 0.310) and Soemmering's ring microscopic cross-sectional area (P = 0.638).


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of different solutions on after-cataract should be assessed in terms of overall regeneration/proliferation of lens material within the capsular bag, in addition to posterior capsule opacification. When administered in low doses during hydrodissection, 5-fluorouracil and mitomycin C did not show a significant inhibitory effect on after-cataract formation in rabbit eyes.
Chew
Jesse
J
John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Werner
Liliana
L
Stevens
Scott
S
Hunter
Brian
B
Mamalis
Nick
N
D000085:Acetates; D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001036:Aphakia, Postcataract / Q000473:pathology; D019923:Capsulorhexis; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D008903:Minerals; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011817:Rabbits; D012038:Regeneration; D012965:Sodium Chloride
D000085:Acetates; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D000963:Antimetabolites; C030660:BSS solution; D004338:Drug Combinations; D008903:Minerals; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D016685:Mitomycin; D005472:Fluorouracil