Evaluation of intraocular reactivity to organic contaminants of ophthalmic devices in a rabbit model.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the intraocular reactivity to organic contaminants of ophthalmic devices in the rabbit.

DESIGN:

Experimental animal study.

PARTICIPANTS:

Fifty New Zealand white rabbits.

METHODS:

The rabbits were allocated to 10 groups of 5 each to receive 2 different doses of human albumin and nonhuman nucleic acids and their respective vehicle controls, a denatured cohesive ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) and a denatured dispersive OVD and their respective nondenatured controls. All 10 eyes in each treatment group received bilateral intracameral injection of the test materials. All the eyes in the study were examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy at baseline and 6, 9, 24, 48, and 72 hours. Pachymetry was also performed on eyes exposed to albumin, protein vehicle control, and the OVDs at these time points.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Corneal thickness, grade of corneal clouding, anterior chamber (AC), cells, flare and fibrin, iridal hyperemia, cell and fibrin on lens surface, and onset time.

RESULTS:

There were no inflammatory signs in any eyes exposed to human albumin. Anterior chamber cells (1+ to 3+) and flare and fibrin (1+ to 2+), along with cells and fibrin on the lens surface, were seen in the eyes exposed to the nucleic acid samples, and they resolved in 24 hours. Mild (mostly 1+) conjunctival congestion, cells, flare, and fibrin were seen in a few eyes exposed to the 2 denatured OVDs and their controls, with the response durations being shorter in the denatured OVD eyes (24 hours) than in the nondenatured OVD eyes (48 hours). Anterior chamber inflammation was generally observed in fewer denatured OVD eyes than in nondenatured OVD eyes, particularly the dispersive OVD eyes.

CONCLUSIONS:

Intracameral injection of human albumin protein did not cause ocular inflammation. Nucleic acid intracamerally injected into rabbit eyes caused acute inflammation that quickly resolved. Cohesive and dispersive OVD denatured by drying and steam sterilization alone did not cause ocular inflammation.

• Authors: Shelley Y Buchen, Don Calogero, Michelle E Tarver, Gene Hilmantel, Xing Tang, Malvina B Eydelman
• Journal: Ophthalmology (Ophthalmology) Vol. 119 Issue 7 Pg. e24-9 (Jul 2012) ISSN: 1549-4713 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 22578449 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2012 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Albumins
• Organic Chemicals
• RNA, Bacterial
• DNA

Topics

• Albumins (toxicity)
• Animals
• Anterior Eye Segment (drug effects)
• DNA (toxicity)
• Equipment Contamination
• Models, Animal
• Organic Chemicals (toxicity)
• RNA, Bacterial (toxicity)
• Rabbits
• Uveitis, Anterior (chemically induced)