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Late postoperative opacification of MemoryLens hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses: case series and review
Mana Tehrani1, Nick Mamalis, Trevin Wallin
1Department of Ophthalmology, Johannes Gutenberg-University, Mainz, Germany. tehrani@augen.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Purpose:
To report clinical and spectrographic analyses of 2 explanted hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).
Setting:
John A. Moran Eye Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, and Johannes Gutenberg-University, Department of Ophthalmology, Mainz, Germany.
Methods:
We report 6 cases of opacification of MemoryLens IOLs (Ciba Vision) that occurred approximately 2 years after implantation. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the IOLs had a white, frosted appearance, and the IOLs' interior looked brown, similar to the appearance of a brunescent cataract. Two of the IOLs were explanted because of a significant decrease in visual acuity. The IOLs were sent for further clinicopathologic analysis including scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX).
Results:
Microscopic analysis revealed multiple, fine, granular deposits of various sizes on the surface of the lens optics. The EDX analysis showed the presence of calcium within the deposits.
Conclusions:
Our cases show that hydrophilic acrylic IOLs can opacify even years after implantation. Analysis of the explanted IOLs revealed calcification.
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