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Spectroscopy identifies implanted IOL materials

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GALVESTON, Texas — Raman spectroscopy can be used to identify the material of a previously implanted IOL in vivo. The technique may be useful when physicians are faced with patients they have never seen before whose medical records are not available.

The October 15, 2001, issue of Ocular Surgery News describes a study conducted here by Wayne F. March, MD, and colleagues using Raman spectroscopy in a noninvasive technique. The study used a confocal laser system that allowed collection of back-scattered light from a particular depth in the eye.

Raman spectra contain specific details about the chemical composition of the material being evaluated. In previous in vitro studies, the Raman spectral features of four silicone materials were identified: silicone, PMMA, acrylic and hydrogel.

The current study included 9 legally blind eyes in 6 patients ranging in age from 46 to 76 years. The eyes were blind as a result of age-related macular degeneration, proliferative diabetic retinopathy or glaucoma. Three patients had fellow eyes that were not legally blind; therefore, no spectra were obtained from those eyes.

All 9 IOLs were correctly identified using the confocal Raman system. The spectra were available for real-time interpretation. The study authors believe this technique will be a fast and patient-friendly diagnostic tool to obtain information on an implanted IOL’s composition.