J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2001 Mar;42(3):512-518.

The Effect of Subconjunctival Retention of Perfluoropropane Gas on the Success Rates of Trabeculectomy in Rabbits

• Joung HJ
• Kim YI
• Lee JH

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of subconjunctival retention of perfluoropropane gas on the success rates in trabeculectomized rabbits.
METHODS
Fifthteen white rabbits were trabeculectomized by fornix-base conjunctival flap, full thickness sclerotomy and iridectomy. The right eye was control and the left eye was injected with 0.2 ml perfluoropropane gas(C3F8) into subconjunctival space through the 30 guage long needle. Each rabbit was examined for bleb morphology under slit-lamp microscope and measured for intraocular pressure by tonopen at preoperative, postoperative 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks. The results were analyzed by Wilcoxon rank sum test in SAS release 6.12 program.
RESULTS
Mean gas retention time was 15+/-2 days. Intraocular pressure measured at postoerpative 2 weeks was statistically significantly lower in gas injected group than control group. At postoperative 2 weeks, fibrovascularization was more prominent in control group than gas injected group. Fibroblast proliferation and collagen tissue formation were more prominent in control group than gas injected group at postoperative 6 weeks.
CONCLUSIONS
Subconjunctival perfluoropropane gas(C3F8) bubbles, via "spacer" effect, aid the maintenance of filtering blebs in the early postoperative period. This technique may be useful in augmenting or salvaging blebs at high risk of failure.

Keyword

Perfluoropropane gas; Subconjunctival space; Trabeculectomy

MeSH Terms

Blister
Collagen
Fibroblasts
Intraocular Pressure
Iridectomy
Needles
Postoperative Period
Rabbits*
Trabeculectomy*
Collagen