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Cell adhesion to acrylic intraocular lens associated with lens surface properties

Takao Tanaka1, Mari Shigeta, Naoyuki Yamakawa

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kosei Chuo Hospital, Tokyo Medical University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. takaoeye@tkh.att.ne.jp

Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery
|September 1, 2005
PubMed

Insights

This study found that smoother acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) with higher contact angles reduce cell adhesion. This suggests a way to minimize inflammatory responses in the eye after IOL implantation.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Biomaterials Science
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Intraocular lenses (IOLs) are crucial for vision restoration after cataract surgery.
  • Cell adhesion to IOL surfaces can trigger inflammatory responses, potentially leading to complications.
  • Understanding surface properties that influence cell adhesion is vital for improving IOL design.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of surface roughness and contact angles on cell adhesion to acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs).
  • To determine if specific surface characteristics can minimize inflammatory cell reactions.

Main Methods:

  • Acrylic IOLs (VA-60 CB) were prepared with varying surface roughness (10.0 nm, 2.5 nm, 0.7 nm) and contact angles (57.5°, 93.5°, 100°).
  • IOLs were cultured with experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis spleen cells for 96 hours.
  • The number of cells adhering to different IOL surfaces was quantified.

Main Results:

  • A lower surface roughness on IOLs correlated with significantly fewer adherent cells.
  • Increased contact angles on the IOL surface also resulted in reduced cell adhesion.
  • Both factors, lower roughness and higher contact angles, independently decreased cell adherence.

Conclusions:

  • Hydrophobic acrylic IOLs with reduced surface roughness may effectively minimize cell adhesion.
  • This approach could potentially mitigate unexpected inflammatory cell reactions post-intraocular lens implantation.
  • Optimizing IOL surface properties is key to preventing intraocular inflammation.
Abstract

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