2499: Establishing a novel surgical model for optic nerve repair

2499: Establishing a novel surgical model for optic nerve repair Cagri Cakmakoglu, MD, Bahar Bassiri Gharb, MD, PhD, Antonio Rampazzo, MD, PhD, Grzegorz Kwiecien, MD, Maria Madajka, PhD, Addison Barnett, BS, and Francis Papay, MD Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA; Plastic Surgery, Cleveland, OH, USA Background Efforts to transplant a mammalian eye have failed mainly due to the ganglion cell axon’s inability to withstand transection. Eye transplantation is not feasible without proof of optic nerve regeneration. The objective of this pilot study is to find an optimal rat optic nerve transection and repairmodel in preparation for eye transplantation. Methods 30 cadaver and 10 live Lewis rats were used to expose, transect, and repair the optic nerve and visualize its anatomical relationship with the ophthalmic artery. Nerve coaptation was performed with 12/0 suture. The pathway of the ophthalmic artery was evaluated by red latex injection.