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Published on: April 3, 2016
A newly designed glaucoma drainage implant made of poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene): biocompatibility and
Ana C Acosta1, Edgar M Espana, Hideo Yamamoto
1Ophthalmic Biophysics Center, Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, FL 33136, USA.
Objective:
To report clinical evaluation, flow patency, and histopathological findings of a novel glaucoma drainage implant (GDI) made of poly(styrene-b-isobutylene-b-styrene) (SIBS) in rabbits.
Methods:
In 16 normal eyes, the proximal end of the SIBS GDI was inserted into the anterior chamber while the distal end was placed in the subconjunctival space. A control group underwent implantation of a similarly designed silicone GDI. Slitlamp follow-up and intraocular pressure measurements were recorded. Flow patency was evaluated by injecting 0.01% fluorescein into the anterior chamber. Immunostaining against collagen IV, macrophages, and alpha smooth muscle actin was performed.
Results:
Slitlamp examination suggested adequate biocompatibility. A low and diffuse bleb was observed in the SIBS group. All SIBS tubes were patent 6 months after insertion. Immunostaining demonstrated noncontinuous collagen deposition. No macrophages or myofibroblasts were visible around the SIBS tubes. In contrast, silicone induced collagen deposition and myofibroblast differentiation.
Conclusion:
This new GDI is clinically biocompatible in the rabbit and maintained 100% patency at 6 months. A remarkable difference was the absence of myofibroblasts in the surrounding tissue in the SIBS group.
Clinical Relevance:
This novel GDI made of SIBS would prevent the feared complication of hypotony and will decrease the amount of subconjunctival fibrosis.
