This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Heparin-coated IOL may not suppress postoperative inflammation
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
MILAN — Heparin coating on IOLs may not offer a protective effect against postoperative inflammation in patients at high risk for developing the complication, according to a study presented here.
“Patients with uveitis but also diabetes and pseudoexfoliation syndrome are more likely to develop strong inflammatory reactions following cataract surgery,” Oliver Findl, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Oliver Findl
In the past, modified PMMA lenses with heparin coating were implanted in high-risk patients because the lenses seemed to cause less inflammation and capsular reaction. Some modern foldable lenses, such as the hydrophobic acrylic Polylens (Polytech), are now available in a modified heparin-surface model.
In a randomized, bilateral, double-masked trial, the basic model of the Polylens was implanted in one eye and the heparin-coated model was implanted in the fellow eye of 40 patients with diabetes or pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
Postoperative evaluation was performed at 1 hour, 1 day, 3 weeks and 3 months postop using a Kowa laser flare cell meter to measure inflammation, standard slit lamp images to assess anterior capsule opacification and the Purkinje meter to assess IOL tilt and decentration.
“Flare values did not differ between groups at all the time points. Tilt and decentration that may occur as a consequence of capsule shrinkage were the same in both groups. No difference was found in rhexis size, anterior capsule opacification and visual acuity between groups,” Findl said.
Disclosure: Findl has no relevant financial disclosures.