title: [Biocompatibility of silicone intraocular lenses].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In order to the biocompatibility of silicone intraocular lenses, which is described contradictory in literature, we compared IOLs made of silicone caoutchouc and PMMA-IOLs with regards to the presence of macrophages (i.e. giant cells or spindle-shaped cells) in a prospective, randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Totally 125 patients were examined 2 months post-operatively with the slitlamp in the refractive zone. The single-piece PMMA-IOLs with an open haptic used in this study had a 6 mm optical zone and a total diameter of 11 mm; the silicone-IOLs were disc-shaped lenses with a total diameter of 9.75 mm and an optical zone of 6 or 5.5 mm, resp.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Giant cells were observed with 16% of PMMA-lenses and 19% of the silicone-lenses. The maximal density of the giant cells on the PMMA-lenses at the median was 3/mm2 compared to 2/mm2 on the silicone IOLs. Small and spindle-shaped cells were found in 54% of the PMMA-IOLs and 46% of the silicone-lenses. The maximal cell density at the median was 10/mm2 with both lens types.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The differences between the two lens materials are statistically non-significant. Thus, silicone caoutchouc and PMMA possess a comparable biocompatibility when used as material for intraocular lenses.
authors.affiliation: Augenklinik der RWTH Aachen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wenzel
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kammann
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allmers
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000473:pathology*; D015743:Giant Cells, Foreign-Body / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008264:Macrophages / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012828:Silicones; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012828:Silicones
vernacular_title: Zur Bioverträglichkeit von Intraokularlinsen aus Silikon.