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Intraocular Lens Unfurling Time Exponentially Decays with Increased Solution Temperature
Erick E Rocher1, Rishima Mukherjee1, James Pitingolo1
1Center for Bioengineering Innovation and Design, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Clinical Ophthalmology (Auckland, N.Z.)
|August 28, 2023
Summary
Elevating intraocular lens (IOL) solution temperature significantly speeds up IOL unfurling during cataract surgery. Warmed solutions may improve operative efficiency, but further research is needed to confirm clinical safety and efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Biomaterials Science
- Surgical Technology
Background:
- Intraocular lens (IOL) unfurling is a critical step in cataract surgery.
- Inefficient IOL unfurling can prolong operative time and impact clinical outcomes.
- Optimizing IOL deployment is essential for surgical efficiency.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of solution temperature on intraocular lens (IOL) unfurling time.
- To evaluate the effect of different ophthalmic solutions on IOL unfurling dynamics.
- To assess the relationship between temperature and IOL unfurling efficiency in simulated ocular environments.
Main Methods:
- IOLs were tested in vitro using a 6-well plate and a plastic eye model.
- Experiments utilized balanced salt solution (BSS) and two types of ophthalmic viscoelastic devices (OVDs).
- IOL unfurling times were recorded at various solution temperatures.
Main Results:
- IOL unfurling time decreased exponentially with increasing solution temperature across all tested models.
- At 10°C, below the IOLs' glass transition temperature, unfurling exceeded 10 minutes.
- Increasing temperature from 20°C to 30°C reduced unfurling time by over 2 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Elevated solution temperatures significantly accelerate IOL unfurling in vitro.
- IOLs require temperatures above their glass transition point for clinically acceptable unfurling.
- Warming BSS and/or OVD may enhance cataract surgery efficiency, warranting further clinical investigation.
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