Adult Rabbit Eye and Orbital Volumes after Periodic Intrabulbar Injections of Silicone

Abstract

Whether periodic injections of silicone into the adult rabbit eye would alter the volume of the eye and/or orbit was determined. This procedure in growing rabbits resulted in increased volumes of the eye and orbit. Nineteen 13 mo. old (adult) rabbits were used. In 12 animals silicone was injected into 1 eye but not the opposite one. No silicone was injected into the eye of 7 untreated rabbits. In 9 wk the total amount of 10 silicone injections into each treated eye ranged from 5.7-7.6 ml. After the last injection each eye was enucleated, an impression made immediately, and a permanent model subsequently developed. rom this the volume was determined. At t test was performed on the mean differences of the eye and orbital volumes of the injected and noninjected sides for each group. No significant difference was found. There was no evidence that periodic intrabulbar injection of silicone into the adult rabbit eye altered its volume. This procedure also did not alter orbital volume. In the growing rabbit eye and orbital volume had increased significantly after intrabulbar injection of silicone.