The effect of the haptic portion of intraocular lens on the development of posterior capsular opacification in rabbit

Preliminary results of cataract extraction with implantation of a single-piece AcrySof intraocular lens

PURPOSE

To evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative performance of the single-piece AcrySof SA30AL intraocular lens (IOL) in a series of patients after cataract surgery and IOL implantation.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

METHODS

In this prospective study, 20 patients who had phacoemulsification and implantation of a single-piece AcrySof SA30AL lens from March to April 2000 were evaluated. Assessed were control of IOL folding, ease of IOL implantation, IOL centration, intraoperative and postoperative complications, visual acuity, and anterior (ACO) and posterior (PCO) capsule opacification.

RESULTS

In all cases, the IOL was easily folded, inserted, and unfolded. It remained well centered in the capsular bag, and there were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The best corrected visual acuity after surgery was 20/40 or better in all patients. No eye developed ACO or phimosis. One eye had a well-demarcated, oval area of lens epithelial cell proliferation on the posterior capsule that did not impair visual acuity.

CONCLUSIONS

Initial results indicate that the single-piece AcrySof SA30AL IOL has good biocompatibility, haptic flexibility and resistance, and stability in the capsular bag. The incidence of PCO in 1 eye could have been the result of several factors and requires further evaluation. An area of future study is the wide haptic of the lens, which may create a path for cells to proliferate as they travel from the equatorial capsule.

Posterior capsule opacification

Posterior capsule opacification (PCO) is the most common complication following primary cataract surgery. Advances in intraocular lens (IOL) designs that have reduced the amount of PCO following surgery have been made. The understanding of how the IOL design effects PCO has also advanced. Lenses that provide a mechanical barrier between it and the posterior lens capsule seem to inhibit PCO to a greater degree. Intracapsular rings are now being explored to test and enhance this barrier effect. Major advances in the elimination of lens epithelial cells at the time of surgery especially by pharmacologic means have also been made. An immunotoxin specific for human lens epithelial cells shows promise and is under latter phase clinical development.