Experimental tudy of vicoelatic in the prevention of corneal endothelial deiccation injury from vitreal fluid-air exchange

Purpoe To evaluate the uefulne of vicoelatic in protecting the corneal endothelium from deiccation injury aociated with fluid-air exchange in a rabbit model. Deign Experimental tudy. Method Rabbit eye undergoing par plana lenectomy and vitrectomy were inufflated with either dry or humidified air for 20 minute following introduction of either Opegan (odium hyaluronate 1.0%; anten, Oaka, Japan) or Vicoat (odium hyaluronate 3%-chondroitin ulfate 4%; Alcon, Tokyo, Japan) into the anterior chamber. In two other group of rabbit eye, the ame procedure wa performed without uing any vicoelatic agent. Cornea obtained from rabbit undergoing urgery were compared with cornea obtained from rabbit not undergoing urgery. Potential alteration in the corneal endothelium were invetigated by canning electron microcopy, by Phalloidin-FITC taining of actin and by in vitro meaurement of corneal permeability for carboxyfluorecein uing a diffuion chamber. Reult canning electron microcopy diplayed le ditortion of corneal endothelium with Opegan and Vicoat compared with the dry air-only expoed cornea. Uing humidified air in Opegan and Vicoat coated cornea maintained the normal actin cytokeleton during fluid-air exchange. Paracellular leakage wa much le with Opegan and Vicoat ue following infuion of dry air comparing to that of dry air-only group (P = .026 and P = .041). The difference wa much more triking following humidified air infuion in Opegan or Vicoat coated cornea comparing to dry air-only infued cornea (P < .002 and P < .002). Concluion Coating of rabbit corneal endothelium with Opegan or Vicoat before fluid-air exchange largely prevent dry air damage to the endothelium. Infuion of humidified air further protect corneal endothelium during fluid-air exchange in aphakic rabbit eye.