Cellular reaction on the anterior surface of 4 types of intraocular lenses

Abstract

Purpose To assess the cellular reaction on the anterior surface of 4 types of foldable intraocular lenses (IOLs). Setting Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Methods One hundred eyes scheduled for cataract surgery were prospectively randomized into 4 groups of 25 eyes each using random number tables. Group 1 received a Hydroview™ IOL (Bausch & Lomb), Group 2 an AcrySof® IOL (Alcon), Group 3 a MemoryLens® IOL (ORC), and Group 4 a CeeOn® 920 IOL (Pharmacia). Patients were examined 1, 3, 7, 30, 90, and 180 days postoperatively. Postoperative biomicroscopic examinations were done with a slitlamp, and a specular microscope was used to document the presence of cell deposits and identify areas with the highest density of cells. Results The local tissue response revealed 2 patterns: a nonspecific foreign-body reaction to the IOL (small round, fibroblast-like, epithelioid, and giant cells) and a lens epithelial cell (LEC) reaction. The highest incidence of LECs was in the Hydroview group, in which LECs were present on 81.8% of lenses 180 days postoperatively. During the first postoperative days, small round and fibroblast-like cells were found on all IOLs. From 7 days on, the incidence and density of these cells were less severe in the Hydroview and CeeOn 920 groups. After several weeks, epithelioid cells and foreign-body giant cells were seen on some IOLs. These cells appeared more often on AcrySof, MemoryLens, and CeeOn IOLs. Conclusion This study found IOL-related differences in cellular reaction after cataract surgery. The incidence of a nonspecific foreign-body reaction to 4 IOLs is consistent with the results of previous studies. The incidence of LECs was highest in the Hydroview group and lowest in the AcrySof group. The CeeOn 920 group had the lowest incidence of all types of cells.