Morphologic differences observed by scanning electron microscopy according to the reason for pseudophakic IOL...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Biomaterials Science
• Materials Science

Background:

• Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are crucial for vision restoration after cataract surgery.
• Understanding the surface changes of explanted IOLs is vital for assessing their long-term performance and biocompatibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare surface morphology variations of explanted intraocular lenses (IOLs) using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
• To investigate the relationship between explantation causes and observed surface changes in IOLs.

Main Methods:

• A prospective multicenter study analyzed 40 explanted IOLs from 2006-2012.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were employed for surface analysis.
• All primary procedures involved phacoemulsification.

Main Results:

• Explantation causes included IOL dislocation, refractive error, and opacification.
• Dislocated IOLs showed calcifications (50%), salt precipitates (37.5%), and biological deposits.
• IOLs explanted for refractive error exhibited protein (45.5%) and salt precipitates (36.4%).
• Opacified IOLs revealed calcifications (66.6%) and protein deposits (66.6%).

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in IOL surface morphology were observed via SEM.
• The study found no direct correlation between surface changes and the specific cause for IOL explantation.
• SEM is a valuable tool for evaluating IOL biotolerance and tissue interactions.