Enucleated eye model for intraocular retinal prosthesis implantation

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Innovation

Background:

• Developing effective intraocular retinal prostheses is crucial for restoring vision.
• Assessing surgical implantation techniques requires a suitable preclinical model.
• Existing models may not accurately replicate the complex intraocular environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an enucleated porcine eye model for evaluating intraocular retinal prosthesis implantation.
• To refine the surgical technique for inserting a retinal prosthesis array.
• To assess the feasibility and safety of the implantation procedure in a controlled setting.

Main Methods:

• Developed an enucleated porcine eye model.
• Performed surgical steps including corneal and crystalline lens removal, keratoprosthesis replacement, and vitrectomy.
• Inserted a folded 10-mm retinal prosthesis via a 5-mm scleral incision, secured with a retinal tack.
• Utilized fundus photography and optical coherence tomography for post-operative assessment.

Main Results:

• The surgical technique was successfully performed on the porcine eye model.
• The retinal prosthesis array was inserted without significant damage.
• The prosthesis conformed to the eye's curvature, indicating good fit.
• The model demonstrated suitability for assessing prosthesis implantation.

Conclusions:

• An enucleated porcine eye model provides a viable platform for studying retinal prosthesis implantation surgery.
• The developed surgical technique is feasible for inserting retinal prosthesis arrays.
• Further research can utilize this model to optimize device design and surgical procedures for vision restoration.