Postoperative cellular reaction on surface modified intraocular lenses in living human eyes

Specular microscopy was performed to evaluate the postoperative cellular reaction on surface modified poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses (IOLs) (Ioptex Research, Inc., model U370) in 40 eyes of 36 patients who had extracapsular cataract extraction with implantation of the surface modified IOLs. The cellular elements observed were fibroblast-like cells, histiocytes, and giant cells. Gray amorphous depositions, part of which were sometimes recognized as interference fringes or interference colors, formed a layer in the center of the optics. These depositions were probably caused by the adsorption from aqueous humor. In subclinical cases, only a few histiocytes and giant cells were recognized in the optic center and the optic periphery was free of the cells during our observation. Within two months of surgery most of the cells had disappeared. In vivo specular microscopy showed no manufacturing defects on the implanted lenses. Our findings suggest that, although there was a postoperative cellular reaction on the surface modified IOLs, they were biocompatible.