A new experimental device to evaluate eye ulcers using a multispectral

BELLOTTI, MARIELA; BAST, WALTER; BERRA, ALEJANDRO; BONETTO, FABIAN.J.

REVIEW OF SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTS

AMER INST PHYSICS

Año: 2011 vol. 82 p. 743031 - 743035

0034-6748

We present a novel experimental technique to determine eye ulcers in animals using a spectral electrical impedance technique. We expect that this technique will be useful in dry eye syndrome. We used a sensor that is basically a platinum (Pt) microelectrode electrically insulated by glass from a cylindrical stainless steel counter-electrode. This sensor was applied to the naked eye of New Zealand rabbits (2.0–3.5 kg in weight). Whereas half of the eyes were normal (control), we applied to the remainder a few drops of 20% (v/v) alcohol to produce an ulcer in the eye. Using a multispectral electrical impedance system we measured ulcerated and control eyes and observed significant difference between normal and pathological samples. We also investigated the effects of different applied pressures and natural degradation of initially normal eyes as a function of time. We believe that this technique could be sufficiently sensitive and repetitive to help diagnose ocular surface diseases such as dry eye syndrome. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.© 2011 American Institute of Physics.