Effects of scleral cross-linking using genipin on the process of form-deprivation myopia in the guinea pig: a randomized controlled experimental study.

Mengmeng Wang,Christine Carole C Corpuz

doi:10.1186/s12886-015-0086-z

Mengmeng Wang, Christine Carole C Corpuz

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12886-015-0086-z

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Journal: BMC ophthalmology	Publication Date: Jul 29, 2015
Citations: 67	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Hebei Eye Hospital, Asian Eye Institute

Abstract

BackgroundScleral cross-linking (CXL) is a novel attempt to slow down the axial elongation process in animal eyes. As a natural CXL reagent, genipin would be also effective for the prevention of myopia process. Thus, the present study was designed to evaluate the effects of scleral cross-linking using genipin on the form-deprivation (FD) myopia process of guinea pigs.MethodsTwenty-seven 3-week-old pigmented guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups. Group A (n = 8) is the untreated control group. Group B (n = 8) is the FD control group, where all eyes were induced with monocular FD for 21 days. In Group C (n = 11), a sub-Tenon injection of 0.10 mL 0.50 % genipin was performed on FD eyes at day 0, 7 and 14 during the 21-day monocular FD. The ocular refraction, axial length, biomechanical test and light and electron microscopy were measured on all eyes to check the efficacy and safety of this scleral CXL technique.ResultsCompared with Group A, significant increases in myopic refractive errors, axial elongation and reductions of scleral fibril diameter and density were observed in the 21-day FD eyes of Group B (P < 0.05). In Group C, the scleral CXL resulted in less myopia and axial elongation as compared with Group B (P < 0.05); a significant thickening of scleral fibrils was found after sub-Tenon injections of genipin; no histological damage on the retina or choroid was observed in Group C at the end of this study.ConclusionsThe FD myopia in guinea pig eyes was effectively blocked by the scleral CXL using sub-Tenon injections of genipin. No histological damage was found on the retina or choroid of these treated eyes. Further studies are needed to examine the long-term efficacy and safety of this CXL technique.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12886-015-0086-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

Scleral cross-linking (CXL) is a novel attempt to slow down the axial elongation process in animal eyes
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of scleral cross-linking using genipin in form-deprivation myopia in guinea pigs
In Group B, a significant increase in axial length and refraction was found after the 21-day FD (P < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

Scleral cross-linking (CXL) is a novel attempt to slow down the axial elongation process in animal eyes. As a natural CXL reagent, genipin would be effective for the prevention of myopia process. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of scleral cross-linking using genipin on the form-deprivation (FD) myopia process of guinea pigs. The excessive axial eye size, especially the vitreous chamber elongation, is the most important determinant factor of this condition. Form deprivation (FD) is an Scleral cross-linking (CXL) is a novel attempt to prevent the axial elongation and slow down the myopia process [8]. As a natural CXL reagent derived from Gardenia jasminoides, genipin has a potential for neuroprotective action and biocompatibility [9, 10]. Genipin CXL has similar exvivo toxicity in the cornea than in UVriboflavin CXL, and much less than gluaraldehyde [11]

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