The experimental research of rabbit's sclerotomy sites undergoing transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy

To investigate the healing mechanism of the rabbit's sclerotomy sites undergoing the Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy (TSV).

Thirty-two rabbits (Thirty-two eyes) were divided into four groups: The rabbits performed with the core vitrectomy and air tamponade were Group A, performed with the core vitrectomy as Group B, performed with the non-core vitrectomy and air tamponade as Group C, and the non-core vitrectomy as Group D. The sclerotomy sites were observed by the Ultrasound Biomicroscope (UBM model 840, Humphrey Instruments, San Leandro, CA, USA) on days 1, 3, 5, and 9 postoperatively, and the diameter of the internal and the external aperture was estimated on postoperative day 1. The pathological study of the sclerotomy sites on days 3, 5, and 9 postoperatively were investigated under the light microscope.

The Ultrasound Biomicroscope and the pathological sections showed that the healing course of the sclerotomy sites lasted nine days. On postoperative day 1, the vitreous incarceration (19/32, 59.4%), the fluid cavity (18/32, 56.3%), and the air cavity under the conjunctiva (7/16, 43.8%) existed in some cases. The diameter of the internal aperture in Group A and Group B was less than Group C and Group D on day 1 postoperatively, P<0.001. The diameter of the external aperture did not show significant difference in any of the groups. The pathological study verified the healing course was the granulation reaction.

The healing mechanism of the rabbit's sclerotomy sites undergoing the (TSV) is the granulation reaction accompanied with the elastic recovery of the sclera.