[Scleroplasty with plasma-modified homoslceral grafts: experimental morphological study]

Healing of homoscleral grafts treated by gas discharge low-temperature plasma has been studied. Such treatment leads to formation of a modified surface layer in scleral tissue; the presence of such a layer improves the hydrophilic properties and biocompatibility of the sclera, thus promoting better adaptation of the graft to further restructuring and healing during the postoperative period. Experiments on 32 eyes of chinchilla rabbits showed that after scleroplasty with thus treated transplants, complete replacement of fibroblasts and collagen carcass of the graft was observed as early as after 7.5 months (vs. 12 months in the control); the graft was stabilized and tightly grown into the sclera to form a solid sclera-graft complex which fortifies the scleral membrane of the eye. Use of plasma-modified transplants may improve the efficiency of scleroplastic operations in progressive myopia and ocular injuries.