Prevention of capsular bag opacification with a modified hydrophilic acrylic disk-shaped intraocular lens

PURPOSE: To evaluate the stability and capsular bag opacification with a modified disk-shaped 1-piece hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) suspended between 2 complete haptic rings connected by a pillar of the haptic material and with a commercially available 1-piece hydrophilic acrylic IOL. SETTING: John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. DESIGN: Experimental study. METHODS: Study and control IOLs were implanted into the left eyes and right eyes of 5 New Zealand rabbits. Eyes were examined at the slitlamp from 1 through 4 weeks. At 4 weeks, the globes were enucleated and evaluated under a very-high-frequency ultrasound. Photographs were taken and capsular bag opacification scored from the posterior aspect (Miyake-Apple view), and the eyes were processed for complete histopathology. RESULTS: At 4 weeks, the posterior capsule opacification score was 0.0 in the study group and 1.75 +/- 0.5 (SD) in the control group (P=.005, paired t test). Ultrasound examination showed that 2 of the study IOLs had no contact between the posterior optic surface and the posterior capsule. Minimal proliferative cortical material was confined to the peripheral space between anterior and posterior rings of the study IOL haptics in localized areas at the equatorial region of the capsular bag. Anterior capsule opacification was absent in all eyes. CONCLUSIONS: The study IOL is a modification of a previous design, incorporating haptic perforations between the peripheral rings. By maintaining an open capsular bag and enhancing endocapsular inflow of aqueous, this modified design appears to prevent capsular bag opacification.