Posters

Clinical and histological outcomes after intrastromal ring segment implantation with or without PRGF

Poster Details

First Author: L.Ibares-Frías SPAIN

Co Author(s):    P. Gallego   R. Cantalapiedra-Rodriguez   C. García-Álvarez   J. Merayo-Lloves   M. Martinez  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To compare clinical and histological outcomes after intracorneal ring segment (ICRS) implantation with and without plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF-Endoret) covering the segment

Setting:

Group of Optical Diagnostic Techniques, University of Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain. Ophthalmology Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain

Methods:

We performed surgery for this study in hens as an animal model. We used 57 eyes which were randomly divided into two groups. In the first group we implanted one segment per eye by a manual technique. In the second group we implanted the ICRS immersed in PRGF. Hens also were separated into 4 groups (48 hours, 7 days, 1 and 3 months) regarding the time they were killed and then corneal tissue was fixed for histological analysis and immunofluorescency studies. Clinical examination and measurements of the refractive error were carried out with a special device at different time points. Quantitative measurements of the histological preparations were also performed. SPSS 19 Statistical software was used. An independent T Student Test was used for comparison between the two groups. A p value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results:

Complications were found in 21% of the eyes in the first group and 11.5% of the eyes in the second group. In the ICRS-PRGF group few deposits with low intensity were described. Histologically corneal thickness at 48 hours was thinner in the ICRS-PRGF group. At 7 days in the PRGF group there were double the number of cells around the segment compared with than the ICRS alone group. These were proliferating cells with different morphologies resembling fibroblast , cell debris and immature cells. TUNEL positive cells in ICRS-PRGF group remained positive for more than 7 days indicating cell exchange.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that PRGF-Endoret in clinical and histological response after implantation of ICRS in an experimental animal model enhances proliferation and apoptosis of cells without myofibroblast differentiation, reducing haze formation and with a beneficial effect regarding complications. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE