Heparin-coated IOL does not affect development of posterior capsule opacification

A hydrophobic acrylic IOL with heparin coating reduced flare 1 day postoperatively but did not reduce posterior capsule opacification more than an uncoated version of the same lens at 1 year, a study found.

The prospective study included 102 eyes of 51 patients who underwent phacoemulsification and were randomized to receive an EC-1YH PAL heparin-coated hydrophobic IOL (Aaren Scientific) in one eye and an uncoated EC-1Y PAL IOL (Aaren) in the fellow eye.

Investigators used the Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification (EPCO) system to grade the density of opacification on a scale of 0 (no opacification) to 4 (severe opacification).

Patients underwent objective aqueous flare measurement and determination of manifest refraction, uncorrected distance visual acuity and corrected distance visual acuity at 1 day and 1, 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Investigators determined straylight values at 1, 3 and 12 months postoperatively.

The mean EPCO score was 0.50 in the coated IOL group and 0.45 in the uncoated IOL group at 1 year postoperatively; the between-group difference was insignificant.

Both groups had similar straylight measurements, distance visual acuities and contrast sensitivity values.

Flare was significantly reduced at 1 day in the coated IOL group. However, mean flare values were 13.6% higher than preoperative baseline flare values in the coated IOL group and 12% higher in the uncoated IOL group and approached baseline flare values at 1 year postoperatively.

There was a correlation between uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuities and mesopic and photopic contrast sensitivity in both groups, but the correlation was not significant. – by Matt Hasson

Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Krall EM, et al. J Refract Surg. 2015;doi:10.3928/1081597X-20150623-05.