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In vivo assessment of subretinally implanted microphotodiode arrays in cats by optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography

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Abstract

Background

Following multiple promising investigations into restoration of vision in degenerative retinal disease by implantation of a sub- or epiretinal prosthesis, the step to clinical use in humans is impending. In this study we intended to establish optical coherence tomography (OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) first in research animals for noninvasive assessment of the condition of the posterior pole of eyes after intraocular implant surgery.

Methods

Three adult cats that had undergone subretinal implant surgery were evaluated by OCT and FA between 1 and 470 days postoperatively. Eight adult cats served as control. In addition histology was performed.

Results

In all three cats OCT demonstrated stable positioning of the implants in the subretinal space during the complete examination period. Transient retinal edema was found in the early postoperative period but decreased during follow-up. The retina over the implants was well attached at all times in cats 1 and 2; however, in cat 3 localized retinal detachment was demonstrated. FA showed intact retinal vasculature over the subretinal implant in high detail without interference from choroidal background fluorescence.

Conclusions

OCT and FA have been fruitfully applied to cats to assess the morphological and circulatory conditions of the neuroretina and of its interface with the subretinal implant. The techniques may therefore provide a tool for objective, noninvasive in vivo evaluation of eyes that have undergone subretinal implant surgery, both in research animals and in humans.

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Acknowledgements

Support of this study was provided by the Keio Gijuku Fukuzawa Memorial Fund for the Advancement of Education and Research and the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), grant 01 IN 502 A. The authors thank Chiaki Kato and Mitsuko Agarie for excellent technical advice. The collaboration with our partners in Stuttgart (IMS and IPE) and Reutlingen (NMI), who delivered the subretinal implants and were helpful in solving many technical problems, is appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Eye Hospital, Calwerstrasse 7/1, 72076, Tübingen, Germany

    Michael Völker, Kei Shinoda, Helmut Gmeiner, Thorsten Schwarz, Konrad Kohler, Werner Inhoffen, Karl Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt, Eberhart Zrenner & Florian Gekeler

  2. University Eye Hospital, Franz-Josef-Strauß-Allee 11, 93053, Regensburg, Germany

    Helmut Sachs

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  1. Michael Völker
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  2. Kei Shinoda
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  3. Helmut Sachs
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  4. Helmut Gmeiner
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  5. Thorsten Schwarz
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  6. Konrad Kohler
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  7. Werner Inhoffen
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  8. Karl Ulrich Bartz-Schmidt
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  9. Eberhart Zrenner
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  10. Florian Gekeler
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Correspondence to Kei Shinoda.

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Völker, M., Shinoda, K., Sachs, H. et al. In vivo assessment of subretinally implanted microphotodiode arrays in cats by optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 242, 792–799 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0935-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-004-0935-6

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