Heparin Surface Modified PMMA Lenses in a Prospective Double Blind Study

Abstract

Objective: To determine if heparin surface modification of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) lenses increases biocompatibility by a measurable amount. Study Design: Prospective double blind study of postoperative results at 1 week, 1, 2 and 6 months after surgery. Setting: Second University Eye Clinic, Vienna. Patients: Forty adult patients were divided into two groups: in 20 cases heparin surface modified (HSM) PMMA lenses were implanted, in the other 20 patients PMMA lenses of the same type but without surface modification were implanted. Main Outcome Measures: Intraocular irritation, macrophage deposits on the lens, visual acuity, tension and postoperative cortisone dosage. Results: All patients with age appropriate fundus achieved a postoperative visual acuity of 0.8 to 1.25. Twenty per cent of the non-HSM lenses were covered with foreign body giant (FBG) cells but no FBG cells were found in the HSM group. Conclusions: There was little difference between the two groups, except in the foreign body giant cell deposits on the lens surface. This suggests that hydrophilization positively influences the compatibility of the artificial lens in the eye.