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Updated: Sep 28, 2026
Development of an In Vitro Ocular Platform to Test Contact Lenses
Published on: April 6, 2016
In vivo study of bacterial adhesion to five types of intraocular lenses
Laurent Kodjikian1, Carole Burillon, Cécile Chanloy
1Department of Ophthalmology, Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France. kodjikian.laurent@wanadoo.fr
Purpose:
To determine in vivo behavior of the ability of the Staphylococcus epidermidis strain (American Type Culture Collection [ATCC] 14990) to attach to 120 intraocular lenses (IOLs) made of five different biomaterials: fluorine polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), heparinized PMMA, silicone, hydrophobic acrylic, and hydrogel. The pig was chosen as an animal model of endophthalmitis, after a bibliographical analysis and a personal study of its aqueous humor composition.
Methods:
Crystalline lenses from 90 domestic pigs were removed aseptically and replaced with previously infected IOLs. The animals were killed 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week after implantation of the IOLs. The extent of bacterial binding was then measured by counting. Results were compared with a two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA 2), confirmed by the Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test.
Results:
The extent of bacterial binding (expressed as bound bacteria per area unit) was found to range in increasing order from hydrogel, to fluorine PMMA, to hydrophobic acrylic, to heparinized PMMA, to silicone polymer. Comparison of pairs of materials showed statistically significant differences, except between hydrogel and fluorine PMMA.
Conclusions:
To the authors' knowledge, no study has been published so far concerning the in vivo evolution of populations of bacteria adhering to different intraocular materials. Bacterial adhesion to the implant surface must therefore depend on the hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity of the biomaterial. Adhesion is also affected by the nature of the surrounding medium. Because of its complexity, the latter appears to be very difficult to model, thus making in vivo studies essential.
Insights
Bacterial adhesion to intraocular lenses (IOLs) in pigs varied by biomaterial. Silicone showed the highest Staphylococcus epidermidis binding, while hydrogel and fluorine PMMA had the lowest, highlighting material properties
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Microbiology
Background:
- Bacterial adhesion to intraocular lenses (IOLs) is a significant concern for post-operative endophthalmitis.
- Understanding bacterial-biomaterial interactions is crucial for developing infection-resistant IOLs.
- The pig model offers a relevant system for studying ocular infections due to its aqueous humor composition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the in vivo bacterial adhesion of Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 14990) to five different IOL biomaterials.
- To compare bacterial binding across fluorine polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), heparinized PMMA, silicone, hydrophobic acrylic, and hydrogel IOLs.
- To assess the influence of biomaterial properties on bacterial colonization in an animal model.
Main Methods:
- Aseptic removal of crystalline lenses and replacement with infected IOLs in 90 domestic pigs.
- Assessment of bacterial binding at 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week post-implantation.
- Quantitative measurement of bound bacteria per unit area, analyzed using ANOVA 2 and Kruskal-Wallis tests.
Main Results:
- Bacterial adhesion increased in the order: hydrogel < fluorine PMMA < hydrophobic acrylic < heparinized PMMA < silicone.
- Statistically significant differences in bacterial binding were observed between most material pairs.
- No significant difference was found between hydrogel and fluorine PMMA in terms of bacterial adhesion.
Conclusions:
- In vivo bacterial adhesion to IOLs is influenced by biomaterial hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity.
- The complexity of the ocular environment necessitates in vivo studies for accurate modeling of bacterial adhesion.
- Material selection for IOLs can impact the risk of bacterial colonization and subsequent infection.
