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Updated: Jan 18, 2026
Synthesis of Soft Polysiloxane-urea Elastomers for Intraocular Lens Application
Published on: March 8, 2019
Biocompatibility evaluation of a new material for intraocular lenses
1From the Ophthalmology Department, Rambam Healthcare Campus, Haifa, Israel (Qassoom); Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel (Kleinmann); Gray Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel (Kleinmann).
Purpose:
To evaluate the uveal and capsular biocompatibility of a new material for intraocular lens (IOL) fabrication, manufactured entirely from a crosslinked polyisobutylene (xPIB) polymer, in comparison with a commercial reference IOL in a rabbit model.
Setting:
HBI Biotech Sciences, Weizmann Science Park, Ness-Ziona, Israel.
Design:
Prospective, comparative, randomized animal study.
Methods:
Bilateral phacoemulsification was performed in 10 rabbits; one eye was implanted with the test IOL, the xPIB IOL, and the other eye was implanted with a reference IOL. Slitlamp examinations were performed at postoperative weeks 1 and 6. The rabbits were killed humanely at 6 weeks postoperatively, and the eyes were enucleated. After gross examination with the Miyake-Apple view, all eyes were sectioned and processed for histopathologic examination.
Results:
No difference was found in the uveal and capsular biocompatibility of the study and control IOLs in biomicroscopy, Miyake-Apple posterior view, and histopathologic examination. A trend toward lower incidence and mean group severity of Soemmerring's ring was found in the test IOL group.
Conclusions:
The xPIB IOL was found to be noninferior to the reference IOL. Both groups demonstrated the typical, expected ocular reactions of PCO and Soemmerring's ring after IOL implantation in rabbit eyes.
