Changes in intraocular lens surface roughness during cataract surgery assessed by atomic force microscopy.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomaterials Science
• Surface Science

Background:

• Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are crucial for vision restoration after cataract surgery.
• The surface properties of IOLs can influence biological interactions and clinical outcomes.
• Understanding how IOLs change during implantation is essential for optimizing surgical techniques and lens design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess changes in intraocular lens (IOL) surface roughness after simulated injection and implantation.
• To compare the surface morphology of different IOL materials (hydrophobic acrylic and hydrophilic acrylic) before and after undergoing the implantation process.
• To investigate the potential impact of altered IOL surface topography on postoperative complications.

Main Methods:

• Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) in tapping mode to analyze IOL surface topography in a liquid environment.
• Examined three hydrophobic acrylic IOL models and one hydrophilic acrylic IOL model.
• Compared AFM data from IOLs directly from packaging against those subjected to simulated injection through an IOL delivery system by an experienced surgeon.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant increase in optic surface roughness was observed for IOLs after the injection and implantation simulation (P<.05).
• Analysis revealed changes in arithmetic mean, standard deviation, root mean square, and surface skewness, indicating altered surface topography.
• Both hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylic IOLs demonstrated increased surface roughness post-simulation.

Conclusions:

• Standard surgical procedures for IOL insertion can significantly alter the surface characteristics of the IOL optic.
• The observed increase in surface roughness may be a contributing factor to the development of posterior capsule opacification (PCO) post-surgery.
• Further research is warranted to fully elucidate the interfacial properties of IOLs and their clinical implications, particularly concerning PCO.