Ability of Nonswelling Polyethylene Glycol-Based Vitreous Hydrogel to Maintain Transparency in the Presence of Vitreous Hemorrhage

PURPOSE: Postoperative vitreous hemorrhage is a vision-impacting complication of vitrectomy. This preclinical in vitro study assessed the potential ability of a nonswelling polyethylene glycol-based artificial vitreous hydrogel to maintain transparency in the vitreous cavity in the presence of vitreous hemorrhage. METHODS: Samples (1 mL) of diluted blood at concentrations of 0.1%, 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.25% were added to 1 mL samples of polymerized hydrogel in cuvettes (gel + blood group); 2 mL samples of diluted blood at the same concentrations were prepared as controls (blood only group). Spectral transmission curves for the hydrogel (gel + blood group) and diluted blood (blood only group) were obtained before and on days 1, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 28 of the experiment. Between-group comparisons were made using the Student's t-test. The percentage of transmittance in the visible light spectrum (400–700 nm) was measured at each time point. RESULTS: Mean light transmittance was maintained at >90% until day 7 in the gel + blood group and was significantly greater in the gel + blood than in the blood only groups in samples containing blood diluted to 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1.25% during the 28-day study period (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A nonswelling polyethylene glycol-based artificial vitreous hydrogel maintained high optical transparency in the presence of blood through the study period. Injection of this hydrogel into the vitreous cavity at the end of surgery might help to prevent or mitigate vitreous hemorrhage-associated postoperative visual loss. TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE: The hydrogel may prevent visual loss due to postoperative vitreous hemorrhage.