title: Non-penetrating very deep sclerectomy with a hydrophobic polymer implant in a rabbit model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of an implant made of a terpolymer (PTFE-PVDF-PP) on the condition of rabbit eyes during a one year observation period.
  
  
  METHODS
  The implant in the shape of an equilateral triangle (3 mm side length) was manufactured from a thin hydrophobic porous membrane. There were evaluated 40 eyes of 20 rabbits. The animals had non-penetrating very deep sclerectomy (NPVDS) performed, with insertion of an implant in the form of a triangular thin membrane. The control group consisted of 20 eyes where the animals had NPVDS performed without implant insertion. The evaluations included the study of the anterior part of the eye together with photographic documentation. Histopathological examination of the eyes 52 weeks after NPVDS procedure has been made. The process of wound healing was comparable in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The evaluation of the rabbits did not reveal any acute process of intraocular inflammation. After 12 month period of observation, no statistically significant differences in the process of wound healing or status of eyes were found between the groups. An analysis of fibrous connective tissue attachment to the implant showed that its layer was not thick and did not differ significantly from the control. The procedure of very deep sclerectomy and insertion of a polymer implant were well tolerated by the rabbit eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The in vivo results indicate that the hydrophobic implant in the form of a membrane can serve as a sclera implant after further study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Rafał
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leszczyński
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stodolak-Zych
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gumuła
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology of Animal Reproduction, National Research Institute of Animal Production Balice, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wieczorek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology of Animal Reproduction, National Research Institute of Animal Production Balice, Poland.
authors.forename: Yuriy
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kosenyuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biophysics Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pawlicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomaterials, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Kraków, Poland.
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Błażewicz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D002924:Ciliary Body / Q000601:surgery; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D023421:Models, Animal; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016062:Porosity; D011817:Rabbits; D012590:Sclera / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers