Damage of foldable intraocular lenses by incorrect folder forceps.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible damage of foldable silicone or acrylic intraocular lenses caused by the use of incorrect lens folder forceps.


METHODS
Ten silicone and 10 acrylic intraocular lenses were divided into two groups, each containing five silicone and five acrylic lenses. Two easily mistaken folder forceps, each expressly designed for either silicone or acrylic lenses only were properly used to fold the intraocular lenses in group 1 whereas in group 2, the silicone lenses were folded with the forceps designed for the acrylic lenses, and the acrylic lenses were folded with the forceps designed for the silicone lenses. We observed the lenses by transmission and scanning microscopy after folding.


RESULTS
The acrylic lenses folded with forceps designed for the silicone lenses (group 2) disclosed considerable damage of the lens optic.


CONCLUSIONS
Incorrect folder forceps may damage acrylic intraocular lenses.
Baldeschi
L
L
Neurosciences Department, Pisa University, Italy.
Rizzo
S
S
Nardi
M
M
D000179:Acrylates; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012828:Silicones; D013525:Surgical Instruments
D000179:Acrylates; D012828:Silicones