Biocompatibility of hydrophilic intraocular lenses.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the biocompatibility of 3 hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) by evaluating the postoperative cell reaction on the IOL surface, anterior capsule opacification (ACO) rate, and presence of membrane growth over the anterior IOL surface.


METHODS
University Eye Clinic of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.


METHODS
In this prospective study, 73 patients were randomized to receive 1 of 3 types of hydrogel IOLs after phacoemulsification: Storz Hydroview H60M, Corneal ACR6D, or Ioltech Stabibag. To analyze and photograph the anterior IOL surface, slitlamp biomicroscopy and specular microscopy were performed 7, 30, 90, and 180 days after surgery. Small, epithelioid, and giant inflammatory cell reaction was evaluated. In addition, ACO and membrane growth on the anterior IOL surface were assessed.


RESULTS
Low inflammatory cell adhesion was observed on the anterior surface of all 3 IOLs. The Stabibag group had a significantly higher grade of small inflammatory cell reaction 7 and 30 days after surgery. A significantly higher rate of ACO was observed in the ACR6D group. The Hydroview and ACR6D groups had a significantly higher percentage of membrane growth from the capsulorhexis edge onto the anterior IOL surface than the Stabibag group.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinically, the 3 hydrophilic IOLs behaved in a different manner, showing the different forms of biocompatibility. Results indicate that a different chemical composition determines correspondingly different protein absorption on IOL surfaces. This might result in a different adhesion pattern and spreading of lens epithelial and inflammatory cells.
Tognetto
Daniele
D
Eye Clinic, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
Toto
Lisa
L
Ballone
Enzo
E
Ravalico
Giuseppe
G
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002386:Cataract / Q000473:pathology; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials