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The Effects of Scleral Buckling on Young Rabbit Eyes
Andrew A. Moshfeghi, MD;
Scott D. Pendergast, MD;
Michael K. Hartzer, PhD;
Philip J. Ferrone, MD
Arch Ophthalmol. 2004;122:473-476.
Objective To evaluate the effects of scleral buckling surgery on the developing eye in an animal model.
Methods Eleven young rabbits underwent scleral buckling surgery in one eye. In 6 rabbits, a 2.5 x 0.6-mm solid silicone encircling band (240 style) with a Watzke sleeve was used, and in 5 rabbits, a 2.0-mm silicone encircling sponge (502 style) with its ends abutting, but not connected, was used. After 3 months, both eyes of each animal were enucleated. Six eyes of an additional 3 rabbits served as baseline controls for determining initial globe volumes.
Results Of the eyes buckled with a 240 band, 4 of 6 developed glaucoma compared with 0 of 5 eyes buckled with a 502 sponge (P = .06). Migration of the element occurred in all eyes with a 240 band (3 anterior, 3 posterior), while none of the 502 sponges migrated. There was no significant difference in the mean final corneal diameter between eyes with a 240 band (P = .94) and untreated fellow eyes or between eyes with a 502 sponge and untreated fellow eyes (P = .25). The mean axial length of eyes with a 240 band and untreated fellow eyes was 19.57 mm and 16.83 mm, respectively (P = .009). The mean axial length of eyes with a 502 sponge and untreated fellow eyes was 16.67 mm and 16.50 mm, respectively (P = .67). When comparing eyes with a 240 band with eyes with a 502 sponge, a significant difference was observed in the mean axial length (P = .006) and mean volume (P = .006) between the 2 scleral buckle groups.
Conclusions The use of a noninterrupted solid silicone encircling band appeared to have significant effects on the growth of young rabbit eyes. The use of an interrupted silicone sponge produced a buckling effect similar to the solid silicone band and did not migrate, adversely affect eye growth, or result in glaucoma.
Clinical Relevance Noncontinuous encircling elements may prove to be as beneficial as continuous encircling elements in the treatment of tractional and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment in infant eyes without the potentially deleterious effects associated with a nondivided encircling band or the need for a second surgery to divide the encircling element.
From the Department of Ophthalmology, North Shore University Hospital, Great Neck, NY (Drs Moshfeghi and Ferrone); Retina Associates of Cleveland Inc, Beachwood, Ohio (Dr Pendergast); Eye Research Institute, Oakland University, Rochester, Mich (Dr Hartzer); and Long Island Vitreoretinal Consultants, Great Neck (Dr Ferrone). Dr Moshfeghi is currently affiliated with the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, Miami, Fla. The authors have no relevant financial interest in this article.
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