Effects of aqueous humor on filtering bleb in rabbits

ABSTRACT

Preoperative aqueous humor, known to inhibit the growth of fibroblasts in tissue culture assay, was used as an adjunct to filtering surgery in rabbits to determine its effect in vivo on the outcome of filtering surgery. Fifteen rabbits underwent a posterior-lip sclerectomy in both eyes. In experimental eyes 1.4 ml preoperative aqueous humor and in fellow eyes 1.4 ml balanced salt solution were injected intracamerally. Gross and histopathological differences of bleb were observed. In this animal experiment, although there was no statistical significance or late postoperative effect, the rabbit eyes refilled with preoperative aqueous humor intracamerally just after filtering surgery, had a larger bleb and less fibroconnective tissue on the bleb than the control eyes in the early postoperative period.