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Study: Hydrophobic IOLs show lowest PCO incidence
VIENNA, Austria — Hydrophobic IOLs, especially those with a sharp-edged optics, had a lower incidence of posterior capsular opacification in a prospective study of acrylic and silicone lens types.
Researchers here randomized 180 eyes undergoing cataract surgery to receive one of six IOLs: hydrophilic acrylic Hydroview (Bausch & Lomb) or Memory Lens (CIBA Vision), hydrophobic acrylic AcrySof (Alcon) or Sensar (Allergan), hydrophobic silicone CeeOn 920 or CeeOn 911A (Pharmacia). All eyes underwent standardized cataract surgery and follow-up. One year postoperatively, 155 eyes were assessed.
Anterior capsular opacification was more predominant in the hydrophobic IOL groups. Posterior capsular opacification (PCO) of the central 3-mm area was lowest in the groups with a sharp-edged optic (CeeOn 911A and AcrySof) followed by the round-edged silicone, round-edged hydrophobic acrylic and hydrophilic acrylic IOLs.
The hydrophobic acrylic IOLs showed the highest incidence of late foreign-body cell reaction followed by the hydrophilic acrylic and the silicone; the cell reaction was low grade and clinically insignificant. All acrylic IOL types developed lens epithelial cell outgrowth on the anterior IOL surface in some eyes, compared with none in the silicone group (P = .0001).
The study is published in the January issue of Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery.