Introduction:
Viscocanalostomy (V) is an alternative to trabeculectomy in
some glaucoma
patients. To better understand
effects of V on outflow
facility (OF) and
morphology, these parameters were evaluated in six rhesus monkeys, two of which
were glaucomatous in both eyes.
Methods: Two monkeys had experimentally induced glaucoma in both eyes
for at least 2 months following argon laser scarification of the trabecular
meshwork. OF was measured by two-level constant pressure perfusion and tonography
in 4 of the 6 monkeys, including the glaucomatous ones. V was then performed in one eye of each
of 5 monkeys and both eyes of one monkey 4-6 weeks after OF measurements. OF
was measured by tonography again approximately 4 weeks after V in 3 monkeys,
which were then sacrificed for light microscopy. 4-6 weeks after OF measurement
by constant pressure perfusion, the remaining 3 monkeys were sacrificed for
electron microscopy following perfusion of gold
tracer through the
anterior chamber. Intraocular pressure (Goldman
applanation and
Tono-Pen tonometry), ocular biomicroscopy, fundus
photography and
scanning laser ophthalmolscopy were monitored periodically from the initiation
of the study. Results: This abstract was submitted upon request of the meeting organizer,
with the knowledge that few data were available at the time of submission. V produced no change in intraocular
pressure in glaucoma and control monkey eyes. Conclusion: V can be successfully performed in rhesus
monkeys. Morphological and OF results
are pending.