Antibacterial properties of artificial eyes containing nano-sized particle silver

The long-term use of an artificial eyes can lead to complications. Persistent physical stimulation and foreign body contact cause secondary infections. Secondary infection is an important complication after the placement of a artificial eyes and may be difficult to control without removing the artificial eyes. Because of these complications, patients get difficulties to wear prosthesis. Furthermore artificial eyes can change the normal bacterial flora of the patient's conjunctiva. Such postoperative infections might be overcome by improving the antimicrobial properties of the prosthesis surface.

The space in the mold previously occupied by wax was filled with polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resin containing silver at a concentration of 300-700 ppm (parts per million) and the prosthesis was then heat cured. Microorganisms were grown on the treated and control surfaces. We cultured for 24 hours, then counted the number of bacteria in resin compositions containing nano-sized silver particles and controls (Stomacher 400(®) POLY-BAG).

The surface of the artificial eye containing silver grew significantly fewer Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli on in vitro bacterial cultures. The antimicrobial activity was 4.8-6.2 times stronger than for the controls. The numbers of bacteria decreased by 99.9% using the PMMA resin containing silver.

The artificial eyes containing silver that were produced in this study have antibacterial activity, cause little eye discharge, and emit far-infrared rays and anions, all of which promote the ocular health of the person wearing the artificial eye.