Modeling monocular form deprivation in rabbits using a simulated-cataract intraocular lens
Authors:   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Gu Si-Yi , Sun Wei-Jie ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Liang Li-Li ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Lin Lei ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Zou Han ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Xu Jing-Yuan ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Zheng Yu ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Li Yuan-Yuan ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Zhao Yin-Ying ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Chang Ping-Jun ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China, Zhao Yun-E ,   Eye Hospital and School of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; The State Key Laboratory of Optometry, Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; National Center for Clinical and Medical Research, Wenzhou 325003, Zhejiang Province, China; Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University at Hangzhou, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
Published: November 2024

AIM: To establish an animal model of form deprivation amblyopia based on a simulated cataract intraocular lens (IOLs).
METHODS: Poly(dimethyl siloxane)-SiO2 thin films (PSF) with different degrees of opacity as IOL materials were prepared. The light transmission of the PSF-IOL was measured, and its in vitro biosafety was determined by cell counting kit (CCK)-8 assay using the HLEC-B3 cell line and ARPE-19 cell line. Subsequently, the in vivo safety was determined by implanting the PSF-IOL with 10% wt SiO2 into the right eyes of New Zealand white rabbits (PSF-IOL group), and compared with two control groups: contralateral comparison group and normal control (NC) group (Contralateral comparison group: the fellow eye; NC group: a group of binocular normal rabbits without intervention). The flash visual-evoked potentials (F-VEPs) were measured to verify amblyopia.
RESULTS: PSFs containing 0, 2%, and 10% wt SiO2 were successfully constructed. The 0 SiO2 PSF was transparent, while the 10% wt SiO2 PSF was completely opaque. It was found that PSF did not induce unwanted cytotoxicity in HLECs and ARPE19 cells in vitro. In vitro, PSF-IOL with 10% wt SiO2 was also non-toxic, and no significant inflammation or structural changes occurred after four weeks of PSF-IOL implantation. Finally, our IOL-simulated congenital cataract rabbit detected by F-VEPs suggested tentative amblyopia.
CONCLUSION: A PSF-IOL that mimics cataracts is created. A novel form deprivation model is created by the IOL-simulated congenital cataract rabbit. It can be developed fast and stable and holds great potential for future study.