Injectable silicone rubber for ocular implantation after evisceration

ObjectiveTo investigate the usefulness of addition type liquid silicone rubber (ATLSR) as injectable implant after evisceration to maintain the eyeball volume in an animal experiment.MethodsTwelve adult New Zealand white rabbits were included. One eye of each rabbit was randomly selected for evisceration with the fellow eye as control. ATLSR was injected to fill the eyeball socket after evisceration. In vivo observation and photographs were performed up to 24 weeks post-op. Two rabbits were sacrificed respectively at post-operative week 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24. After enucleation, the vertical, horizontal and sagittal diameters of the experimental eyeballs were measured and compared with the control eyes. Histopathological studies were performed to evaluate signs of inflammation.ResultsCornea remained clear throughout the observation period despite mild epithelial edema and neovascularization. Compared to the control eyes, the experimental eyes were significantly smaller in vertical diameter (17.00±1.17 vs. 17.54±1.11 mm, PConclusionInjectable addition type silicon rubber may be a good choice for ocular implantation after evisceration, maintaining eyeball volume and cosmetically satisfactory when compared to the fellow eye. Spontaneous regression of inflammation implied good biocompatibility for at least 24 weeks.