Animal models are useful in glaucoma research to study tissue response to wound healing. Smaller animals such as rats offer additional advantages in terms of availability of detection antibodies and microarrays with cheaper maintenance costs. In this study, we describe a glaucoma filtering surgery (GFS) model in adult Sprague-Dawley rats by performing a sclerostomy using a 26-G needle and additionally placing a silicone tube (27 G) connecting the anterior chamber to the subconjunctival space to maintain a patent fistula for the flow of aqueous humor, thus providing a more definitive bleb. This technique will be useful in identifying and modifying newer targets in the wound healing process in order to improve surgical outcomes following GFS.
Keywords: Animal model; filtering bleb; glaucoma filtering surgery; sprague-dawley rats; wound healing.