Heparin and heparin-surface-modification reduce Staphylococcus epidermidis adhesion to intraocular lenses

Bacterial adherence to intraocular lenses (IOLs) could be the cause of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and lens implantation. The majority of cases of postoperative endophthalmitis are caused by microflora that reside on or near the eye of the patient. Staphylococcus epidermidis commonly colonizes the eyelid margin and conjunctiva and is the most common organism causing postoperative endophthalmitis. In this study, the in vitro adherence of S. epidermidis to regular poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) IOLs and to heparin-surface-modified (HSM) PMMA IOLs was investigated. The effects of heparin and antibiotics in solution on the adherence of bacteria to regular PMMA IOLs were evaluated. Adhesion of bacterial cells to IOLs was determined by counting the viable cells attached to the lenses. Significantly, fewer S. epidermidis attached to HSM-PMMA IOLs and to regular PMMA IOLs treated with heparin than to PMMA IOLs (p < 0.001). Furthermore, bacteria attached in significantly lower numbers to regular PMMA IOLs treated with heparin than to HSM-PMMA IOLs (p = 0.0031). Antibiotics in solution had no significant effect on bacterial adherence to PMMA IOLs. These data indicate that the use of HSM-PMMA IOLs and treatment of PMMA IOLs with heparin could diminish the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis and intraocular inflammation associated with IOL implantation.