Effect of Polyethylene Glycol Polymerization onto a Foldable Intraocular Lens in Pathogenesis of Posterior Capsular Opacity

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-grafted acryl intraocular lenses on the prevention of posterior capsular opacification (PCO). METHODS: The acrylic surface of an intraocular lens (Acrysof SA 60AT, Alcon) was polymerized with PEG (PEG-IOL). To investigate the degree of cell adhesion to the modified lens surface, human lens epithelial cells (1x10(4) cells/ml) were inoculated on each PEG-grafted and acrylic control lens, and all were cultured in a carbon dioxide incubator for 24 hours. The adhered cells were trypsinized and counted. The PEG-IOL was implanted in 20 New Zealand rabbits after removal of the crystalline lens. The formations of PCO were checked serially through retroilluminated digital photography and severity scores were calculated using POCOman. The cell adherence pattern on the PEG-grafted IOL was examined by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The mean number of adherent cells in PEG-IOL was 3.2+/-1.1x10(3), which tended to be smaller than that of the unmodified acrylic control (3.6+/-1.9x10(3)), but without statistical significance. The mean severity of posterior capsular opacification in PEG-IOL was much lower than in the control, especially at week 3. Scanning electron microscopy revealed more patch-like cells firmly attached to the lens surface in the control. CONCLUSIONS: PEG polymerization of the acrylic IOL may lessen the formation of posterior capsular opacification.