An Open-Globe Porcine Injury Platform for Assessing Therapeutics and Characterizing Biological Effects

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Trauma Research

Background:

• Open-globe injuries pose significant risks of permanent vision loss.
• Current therapeutic interventions for these injuries are often inadequate.
• Delays in medical intervention exacerbate poor outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To detail an open-globe injury platform for developing novel therapeutics.
• To establish a model for tracking toxicological and pathophysiological changes.
• To provide protocols for replicating complex eye injuries in a laboratory setting.

Main Methods:

• Utilized enucleated porcine eyes for injury induction.
• Employed a high-speed solenoid device to simulate explosive injury scenarios.
• Implemented computer control for precise injury mechanism operation.
• Integrated real-time intraocular pressure measurement during injury induction.

Main Results:

• The platform successfully induced large, complex open-globe injuries mimicking clinical scenarios.
• The system allowed for precise control over injury parameters.
• Intraocular pressure changes during injury were tracked.
• The model provides a basis for assessing therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions:

• The developed platform offers a reproducible method for studying open-globe injuries.
• This model is valuable for preclinical research and therapeutic development.
• Protocols facilitate the study of biological changes following traumatic eye injury.