Scientific Reports (Sep 2021)

Usability of abattoir-acquired pig eyes for refractive excimer laser research

  • Marius Topka,
  • Yao Zhang,
  • Antonia Bock,
  • Peter Riedel,
  • Johannes Lörner,
  • Alexander Hammer,
  • Eva Maier,
  • Friedrich Paulsen,
  • Christian M. Hammer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-98635-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 1
pp. 1 – 10

Abstract

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Abstract The purpose of this study was to elucidate, under which conditions abattoir-acquired pig eyes are suitable for refractive excimer laser experiments. Porcine eyes from tunnel-scalded (n = 5) and tank-scalded (n = 10) pigs were compared to unscalded eyes (n = 5) and to eyes scalded in the laboratory (n = 5). The corneal epithelium was removed before an excimer laser was used to perform a − 8.0 D photoablation. Corneal thickness was measured by optical coherence topography before and after photoablation. The ablation depth was determined with a contour measuring station, the morphology of the ablated areas was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and white-light profilometry. The scalded eyes showed an increase in corneal swelling which gained statistical significance in tank-scalded eyes showing a wedge-shaped opaque stromal lesion in the nasal corneal quadrant. A measurable deterioration of photoablation was only found in tank-scalded eyes that exhibited the opaque lesion. Ablated area morphology was smooth and regular in the unscalded and tunnel-scalded eyes. The tank-scalded eyes showed conspicuous wrinkles. While unscalded eyes should always be preferred for excimer laser laboratory experiments, the data suggest that the use of tunnel-scalded eyes may also be acceptable and should be chosen over tank-scalded eyes.