LASER-CURED FIBRINOGEN GLUE TO REPAIR BLEB LEAKS IN RABBITS

Objective: To determine whether laser-cured fibrinogen glue can close bleb leaks in rabbits. Methods: Full-thickness filtration surgery with intraoperative mitomycin and a sutured limbus-based conjunctival flap was performed in 1 eye each of 19 New Zealand albino rabbits. On the second postoperative day, a 2- to 3-mm hole was made in the bleb. In 9 rabbits, the hole was glued using fibrinogen glue with indocyanine gr een dye added. The glue was ''cured'' with a diode laser. Eyes that ha d been glued and developed a subsequent leak had the glue reapplied on the day the leak was detected. Results: The glue remained on the conj unctiva for an average (mean+/-SD) of 1.9+/-1.8 days (range, 0-5 days) . The last day of bleb leak for the rabbits with glued eyes was 1.6+/- 2.4 days; for the control rabbits, it was 8.0+/-4.4 days (P=.001, Mann -Whitney U test). Conclusion: Laser-cured fibrinogen glue is effective in closing bleb leaks in rabbits.