Highlights of ARVO 2006

A review of the best studies from this year's meeting, with comments by RCCL's Clinical Editor.

JOSEPH P. SHOVLIN, OD, FAAO

SCRANTON, PA

MICHAEL FERRARI ASSOCIATE EDITOR

This feature highlights some of the more prominent posters and papers presented at this year's ARVO meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. This selection features abstracts regarding contact lens-related topics, such as orthokeratology, silicone hydrogel lenses and more. Each abstract features clinical implications for each topic.

A brief disclaimer: The abstracts here are adapted from the online service provided by the ARVO home office. Abstracts are submitted far in advance of the actual meeting date. Occasionally, the end results (final presentation) of a particular research project may vary somewhat from that of the abstract initially submitted. Every effort will be made to clarify such discrepancies.

Novel Corneal Implant Materials

The purpose is to develop a novel corneal on-lay (implantable contact lens) material comprised of a genetically engineered artificial protein for reversible correction of refractive errors without removing corneal tissue.

The on-lay material is prepared by standard methods of cloning bacterial growth and protein expression to produce the artificial protein. The artificial protein contains both cell attachment domains from elastin and mechanical structure domains from fibronectin to promote epithelial attachment and provide mechanical stability.

A study was conducted with three groups of rabbits in order to test the biocompatibility and reepithelialization of the artificial on-lay material. Surgical wounds were created in Group 1 (n=5) without implant. Protein on-lays were placed on the cornea surface without suture in Group 2 (n=12) and with suture in Group 3 (n=3). The rate and extent of epithelialization was assessed with fluorescein staining with blue light. The rabbits where then euthanized after a week, and the operated eyes were processed for histological examination.

In all cases, epithelialization was initiated at the periphery of the corneal on-lays and progressed inward toward the center. The control eyes (Group 1) showed commencement of epithelialization by Day 1 and full epithelialization within 2 to 4 days. All of the on-lay eyes (Groups 2 and 3) showed epithelial cells on the on-lay by Day 2 and full epithelialization within 4 to 7 days. Histological examination revealed that the corneal stroma posterior to the on-lay and the corneal endothelium both...