The Use of Polymers in the Treatment of Retinal Detachment Current Trends and Future Perspectives 英文参考文献.docVIP

Polymers 2010, 2, 286-322; doi:10.3390/polym2030286 OPEN ACCESS polymers ISSN 2073-4360 /journal/polymers Review The Use of Polymers in the Treatment of Retinal Detachment: Current Trends and Future Perspectives Francesco Baino Materials Science and Chemical Engineering Department, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; E-Mail: francesco.baino@polito.it; Tel.: +39-011-564-4668; Fax: +39-011-564-4699 Received: 2 July 2010; in revised form: 24 August 2010 / Accepted: 24 August 2010 / Published: 9 September 2010 Abstract: Procedures for the treatment of retinal detachment and related conditions have been successfully improved upon in recent years thanks to the advent of new therapies and biomaterials. This review, after giving an overview on eye structure and function, focuses on the treatment of retinal detachment and examines the role and features of the materials used in vitreoretinal surgery, emphasizing scleral buckling and short-term/long-term vitreous tamponade. Specifically, the limitations of existing biomaterials are underlined, based on experimental studies and with particular reference to cells/material interactions. Finally, current and future trends of biomaterials‘ research in the field of vitreoretinal surgery are considered and discussed. Keywords: retina; vitreous; scleral buckling; vitreous substitute; silicone; hydrogel 1. Introduction The human eye is a complex organ of vital importance for everyday life. The risk of retinal detachment (RD) in otherwise normal eyes has been estimated at about 0.005% and is more frequent in middle-aged or elderly people [1,2]. The fate of the eyes affected by RD, if not properly treated, is a progressive loss of vision over time and, eventually, complete blindness. Ocular biomaterials and implants have been successfully used in order to enable surgeons to restore vision in ever more complex R