Pathological evaluation of postmortem human eyes implanted with a new single-piece hydrophobic acrylic lens

Postoperative posterior capsular striae and the posterior capsular opacification in patients implanted with two types of intraocular lens material

AIM

To evaluate the incidence of postoperative posterior capsular striae (PCS) and its influence on posterior capsular opacification (PCO) in patients implanted with two types of lens material.

SETTING

Tertiary eye care center in central rural India.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, observational, nonrandomized study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 1247 patients having age-related cataract scheduled for removal by phacoemulsification technique and implantation of hydrophilic or hydrophobic intraocular lens (IOL). Demographic profile, nuclear grading, axial length, and IOL power were noted. Details of PCS were noted on the 1st postoperative day in patients with clear cornea. Postoperative follow-up was ensured to study the status of PCS and development of PCO.

RESULTS

The overall incidence of PCS was 19.8% (247 out of 1247 eyes). Out of 1247 patients, 641 patients (51.4%) had hydrophilic IOL implantation and 201 eyes had PCS (31.4%) and 606 patients (48.6%) had hydrophobic IOL implantation and 46 eyes had PCS (7.6%), P = 0.04. Three and more striae were seen in 119 eyes (119/641, 18.6%) in hydrophilic group and 4 eyes (4/606, 0.66%) in hydrophobic group. Sixty-two eyes (62/201, 30.9%) in hydrophilic group with multiple PCS were reported with persistent striae after 6 months of surgery. Two eyes in hydrophobic group had persistent striae even after 3 years of follow-up. Evaluation of PCO score of the hydrophilic group was 0.6 whereas of the hydrophobic group was 0.1 (P = 0.04). Ten patients of the hydrophilic group only required neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (ND: YAG) laser capsulotomy.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of PCS was higher in hydrophilic than hydrophobic IOLs. Multiple PCS persisting in patients beyond 6 months after operation should be followed up for early development of PCO, particularly in patients implanted with hydrophilic IOL.

Experimental evaluation of the Corneal Concept 360 intraocular lens with the Miyake-Apple view

PURPOSE

To evaluate a new single-piece, hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) designed to keep the anterior capsule away from the IOL optic, create the effect of a capsular tension ring, and prevent posterior capsule opacification (PCO).

SETTING

John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four Concept 360 IOLs (Corneal Laboratoire) were implanted in 4 human cadaver eyes of various sizes (Miyake-Apple technique). Lens centration, ovalization of the capsular bag and capsulorhexis opening, distance between the anterior optic surface and the anterior capsule and between the posterior optic surface and the posterior capsule, as well as presence of capsular striae were evaluated. The capsular bag was stained with trypan blue, and the ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) was stained with fluorescein to enhance visualization.

RESULTS

In each eye, the lens conformed to the capsular bag with precise centration. No ovalization or distortion of the capsular bag or the capsulorhexis and no posterior capsule striae were observed. Measurements of the capsulorhexis diameter before and after IOL implantation were the same. The anterior capsule remained at distance from the anterior optic surface for 360 degrees, and tight contact between the posterior optic edge and the posterior capsule was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the Miyake-Apple technique is useful in the evaluation of new IOL designs in experimental studies. Design features of the Concept 360 IOL are likely to decrease the outcome of postoperative capsular bag opacification. Long-term clinical studies are necessary to confirm these findings.