THE ROLE OF RETINOTOMY IN AN EXPERIMENTAL RABBIT MODEL OF PROLIFERATIVE VITREORETINOPATHY

Purpose. To create a model of proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) us ing retinotomy with vitrectomy, cryotherapy, and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection, which more closely resembles the human pathophysiolog ic condition. Methods. One hundred and twenty albino rabbits were divi ded into 10 groups of 12 rabbits each and underwent the following proc edures: group 1, vitrectomy; group 2, cryotherapy; group 3, PRP intrav itreous injection; group 4, retinotomy; group 5, retinotomy and vitrec tomy; group 6, retinotomy and cryotherapy; group 7, retinotomy and PRP injection; group 8, retinotomy, vitrectomy, and cryotherapy; group 9, vitrectomy, cryotherapy, and PRP injection and group 10, retinotomy, vitrectomy, cryotherapy, and PRP injection. All animals underwent foll ow-up examinations with indirect ophthalmoscopy and fundus photography on days 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28 after the procedure(s). Retinal c hanges were categorized according to the classification of Fastenberg et al. At the end of the experiments, the eyes were enucleated, and ex amined under light and electron microscopy. Results. No retinal detach ments (RDs) were observed in groups 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 8. RDs of varyi ng severity were observed in group 3 (n = 1), group 7 (n = 2), group 9 (n = 6), and group 10 (n = 12). Light and transmission electron micro scopy confirmed the findings. Conclusions. Combining retinotomy with v itreous removal, cryotherapy, and PRP injection creates an efficient a nd different model of PVR that produced RD in 100% of rabbit eyes.