Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Characterization of Molecular Mechanisms of In vivo UVR Induced Cataract
Published on: November 28, 2012
Ultraviolet radiation absorption of intraocular lenses
Thomas Laube1, Horst Apel, Hans-Reinhard Koch
1Department of Ophthalmology, Essen University, Essen, Germany. thomas.laube@uni-essen.de
Objectives:
To record and compare the spectral transmittance curves of intraocular lenses (IOLs) made out of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), acrylic, hydrogel, and silicone from different manufacturers; to evaluate their ultraviolet radiation absorption capacities; and to contrast the recorded transmittance curves with that of the natural lens.
Design:
Experimental study.
Methods:
We studied 17 different 21-diopter IOLs. A high-performance spectrophotometer with a diffuse transmittance accessory was employed to measure the transmittance of wavelengths from 200 nm to 800 nm through a 1.5-mm aperture.
Main Outcome Measures:
Transmittance percentage and 10% transmittance cutoff wavelength.
Results:
All studied IOLs offered good ultraviolet radiation protection in the ultraviolet C (200-280 nm) and ultraviolet B (280-315 nm) ranges. A number of silicone, PMMA, and acrylic lenses showed different and, at times, only low degrees of absorption in the ultraviolet A (315-400 nm) range.
Conclusions:
Intraocular lenses of different compositions have ultraviolet radiation absorption characteristics different from that of the crystalline lens.
Related Concept Videos
Ultraviolet and Visible (UV–Vis) Spectroscopy: Overview
UV–Vis Spectrum
The UV–Vis spectrum of a molecule is the plot of its absorbance versus wavelength. The plot is drawn by taking molar absorptivity (ε) or log ε on the y-axis (ordinate)...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
Mutations
Chromosomal Alterations Are Large-Scale Mutations
While point mutations are changes in a single nucleotide in...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy: Molecular Electronic Transitions
UV–Vis Spectrometers

