Establishing an Experimental Model of Photodynamically Induced Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy

1. Wang Runsheng¹
2. Lv Peilin²
3. Wang Wenjun¹
4. Wang Xiaodi³

¹Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an Fourth Hospital, Xi'an Institute of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Xi'an 710004, Shannxi, P.R China
²Department of Ophthalmology, Xi'an First Hospital, Xi'an 710002, Shannxi, P.R China
³Department of Ophthalmology, Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an 710003, Shannxi, P.R China

Purpose: Establishing a rat model of AION and evaluate it reliability

Methods: A rat model of AION was established induced by PDT, and corresponding functional changes of the fundus were observed using FFA, OCT, and F-VEP in order to confirm the reliability of the AION model histopathologically.

Results: One day after model establishment, histopathology demonstrated that portions of the optic disc were highly edematous, with edema of nerve fibers and loose tissue, accompanied by displacement of the surrounding retina. At 23 days, the optic disc and surrounding nerve fiber layers had become thinner,. None of the above-mentioned changes was observed in the laser, HPD, or naive groups.

Conclusions: The results of fundus, FFA, F-VEP, and OCT—within 90 days after model establishment—confirmed that krypton red laser irradiation (647 nm), applied 2 h after HPD injection, can establish an ideal animal model of AION.