Purpose: To make a standard vitreous hemorrhage (VH) animal model in rabbits for clinical and experimental research using force percussion injury (FPI).
Methods: Ten New Zealand white adult rabbits age 3 to 4 months with a body weight between 2 and 2.5 kg without any ocular disorders were given bilateral blunt trauma to the eyes with FPI. Two adult rabbits without any ocular disorders were in the control group without any trauma. All traumatic eyes were examined with slit lamp, indirect ophthalmoscope, B-scan, and pathology. Slit lamp photographs and ocular fundus photographs were also taken. All these examinations were performed 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, and 60 days after the ocular trauma. We checked for the presence or absence of VH in all traumatic eyes. Retinal detachment was assessed by B-scan.
Results: All 20 eyes in the experimental group had post-traumatic VH after ocular injury (success ratio 100%). Seventeen of 20 eyes (85%) were good models (GM) and developed severe VH. VH began to decrease one week after the ocular trauma and then was gradually absorbed and disappeared within two months after the ocular trauma. Three eyes (15%) had a little blood in the anterior chamber. Six eyes (30%) had some exudates in the anterior chamber. Only one eye (5%) had a slight traumatic cataract within one week (5-7 days) and kept stable. Lens displacement was also found in three eyes (15%). No retinal detachment or choroidal hemorrhage were found in any traumatic eyes. Both groups were followed up for two months. Rabbits in the control group were normal and were without VH.
Conclusion: A reproducible experimental model of VH in rabbit eye has been successfully made. Massive VH was demonstrated on clinical observations and echography and was confirmed by histopathological examinations. VH was totally absorbed two months after the ocular trauma in our model. Our model is a simple, reliable, reproducible, and stable tool for the research on the mechanism and treatment of VH.