Effect of intraocular lenses on complement levels in human serum

Polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lenses with polypropylene loops were incubated in fresh human serum to determine and quantitate the effect of these lenses on haemolytic levels of C1, C4, C2, C3 and C5 and levels of Factor B and C3c measured by radial immunodiffusion. We were unable to demonstrate any statistically significant differences in complement levels in serum after incubation for 1 h with and without an intraocular lens. After incubation of serum for 3 h with and without an intraocular lens, we were able to demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in C3 by haemolytic assay but not in C3c by radial immunodiffusion. There were no statistically significant differences at 3 h in C1, C4, C2, C5 and Factor B. The results of this study suggest that intraocular lenses do not have a substantial effect on complement levels.