Corneal endothelium cell adhesion on intraocular lenses in vitro

An in vitro evaluation was conducted of the adhesion capabilities of rabbit corneal endothelial cells on intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of heparin-coated polymethylmethacrylate (HSM-PMMA). The concave endothelial surfaces of albino rabbit corneas were placed in contact in vitro with the convex surfaces of the optical side of HSM-PMMA IOLs in 4-day cultures. PMMA IOLs served as controls. After an incubation period, the preparations were examined via phase-contrast microscopy and via inverted microscopy after staining with vital dye (neutral red), both with and without the cornea in place. After fixation and staining with Giemsa, the cells adherent on the lens were counted on five different microscopic fields. It was observed that the corneal endothelial cells adhered equally to heparin-coated and untreated PMMA IOLs.