Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis and intraocular lens biocompatibility.
OBJECTIVE
To study the influence of continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) on poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) intraocular lens (IOL) biocompatibility.


METHODS
Biocompatibility was assessed by measuring the postoperative blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and the cellular reaction at the anterior capsule-IOL interface. In a prospective study, 30 consecutive eyes, normal except for having extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with CCC by a single surgeon, has laser flare and cell measurements and specular microscopy of the anterior IOL surface at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 and 3 months postoperatively.


RESULTS
In addition to the foreign-body reaction previously described in eyes that had other capsulotomy types, the eyes in this study also had a lens epithelial cell (LEC) reaction. The severity of the foreign-body reaction and postoperative aqueous flare and cells was significantly less in eyes with an intact CCC than in those with rim tears in the capsulorhexis and in those having an ECCE with a linear or can-opener capsulotomy, as previously reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis improves the biocompatibility of PMMA IOLs to a degree that could be of clinical benefit. In eyes with CCC, most cells seen on the anterior IOL surface were LECs.
Pande
M
M
Department of Ophthalmology, St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom.
Spalton
D J
DJ
Marshall
J
J
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D018916:Blood-Aqueous Barrier / Q000502:physiology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods*; D002452:Cell Count; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000473:pathology; D015743:Giant Cells, Foreign-Body / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D008768:Methylmethacrylates; D012965:Sodium Chloride