Prevention of capsular bag opacification with a new hydrophilic acrylic disk-shaped intraocular lens

To evaluate capsular bag opacification with a new disk-shaped single-piece hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) suspended between 2 haptic rings connected by a pillar of the haptic material and with a commercially available single-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOL in rabbits.

John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

Experimental study.

The study IOL was implanted in the right eyes of 5 New Zealand rabbits and the control IOL in the left eyes. Slitlamp examination was performed at weeks 1 through 5. After the rabbits were humanely killed, the globes were enucleated and examined by ultrasound. Capsular bag opacification scoring from the posterior aspect (Miyake-Apple view) was then performed, followed by histopathology.

Trace honeycomb posterior capsule opacification (PCO) was noted in some study eyes. All control eyes developed moderate to marked PCO, which was more pronounced at the level of the optic-haptic junction. The mean PCO score was 0.4 ± 0.22 (SD) in the study group and 3.4 ± 0.54 in the control group (P=.000179, paired t test). Minimal proliferative cortical material was confined to the space between the anterior and posterior rings of the study IOL haptics. Anterior capsule opacification was absent in study eyes and mild in control eyes. There was no contact between the anterior capsule and the anterior surface of study IOLs.

The peripheral rings of the study IOL, by expanding the capsular bag and preventing IOL surface contact with the anterior capsule, appear to prevent opacification of the capsular bag.

No author has a financial or proprietary interest in any material or method mentioned.