Abstract
The phenomenon of glistenings, often appearing in intraocular lenses (IOLs) of patients after some time from the surgical operation, is potentially able to induce a poor quality of vision and, therefore, frustrate IOL implantation itself. In this paper, we combine optical microscopy with micro-Raman spectroscopy to get a deeper insight on the mechanism ruling, at microscopic scale, glistening formation. In particular, we have analyzed two types of IOLs, characterized by a different internal hydrophobicity but a similar polymer hydration coefficient. Raman imaging of single microvacuoles reveals that water creeps into the polymeric network, which traps water. Finally, applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to Raman data, we provide information on the probable mechanism leading to water trapping in the two kinds of analyzed IOLs.
Highlights
An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens used to replace the eye’s natural crystalline lens, when it is affected by cataract or other degenerative processes rendering it opaque [1]
As a matter of facts, it is reasonable to speculate that, in this case, the presence of a well-distributed hydrophilic component, water is prone to be spread over the whole IOL polymeric matrix, avoiding trapping by phenyl ring rich environments
We started with a conventional optical microscopy analysis from which we found that microvacuoles tend to be accumulated in the innermost part of the IOL, where they reach the largest size
Summary
An intraocular lens (IOL) is an artificial lens used to replace the eye’s natural crystalline lens, when it is affected by cataract or other degenerative processes rendering it opaque [1]. The rigidity of PMMA required quite large surgical incisions, which increase post-operation risks and hospitalization time Within this scenario, new flexible polymer materials have been introduced to satisfy high levels of biocompatibility and optical functions and, mostly, to squeeze the IOL in order to introduce it in the eye through the smallest possible incision (2-3 mm against 5-7 mm for rigid materials). The rise of foldable lenses has led to the development of a wide spread versions of flexible hydrophobic IOLs on the market. These materials are formed by copolymers, i.e. a mixing of monomers of methymethacrylate (MMA), ethylmethacrylate (EMA), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA), etc. The hydroxyl group in poly-HEMA is responsible of the increasing of the polymer’s hygroscopy [9]
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