[An experimental study of cytology in the aqueous humor of rabbit eyes after intraocular lens implantation].
OBJECTIVE
The study was designed to count the number of white blood cells and observe their subset distribution in the aqueous humor after extracapsular lens extraction and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in capsular bag in rabbits and to discuss the mechanism of postoperative intraocular inflammatory response.


METHODS
27 adult pigmented rabbits were divided into three groups: (1) The IOL was placed in the capsular bag after extracapsular lens extraction; (2) The extracapsular lens extraction; and (3) The control group without any surgical intervention. Aqueous humor samples were aspirated on the postoperative 1, 3, 7 and 14 days, and the total number of white blood cells in the aqueous humor and their subset distribution were counted. The data were analyzed by using analysis of variance of SAS software.


RESULTS
There was a significantly higher number of inflammatory cells in the IOL implanted eyes than that in the eyes with only extracapsular lens extraction.


CONCLUSIONS
In the early postoperative stage, there was a marked increase in the number of white blood cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the IOL group, that is probably related to the mechanical ocular tissue damage and the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier induced by the operative procedures. There were a significant increase in the macrophages, eosinophiles, and lymphocytes in the IOL group, that suggests that an active immune response exist in the anterior ocular inflammation after IOL implantation.
Zhou
Z
Z
Department of Ophthalmology, No 304 Hospital, Beijing.
He
S
S
Liang
Y
Y
D000818:Animals; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000166:cytology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000166:cytology; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011817:Rabbits