[Postoperative opacification of 12 hydrogel foldable lenses (Hydroview(R))].

Background: To evaluate postoperative lens opacifications in foldable hydrophilic intraocular lenses.

Patients And Methods: 12 patients (9 female; 3 male; mean age 77.5 +/- 3 years) were referred from one ophthalmologic surgeon because of opacification of IOLs and markedly decreased visual acuity. Time between implantation and explantation varied from 8 month to 3 years. IOL explantation was performed in all 12 patients and IOL were examined by light-, transmission- and scanning electron microscopy.

Results: IOL-explantation was uneventful in all 12 patients. The explanted IOLs showed crystalline deposits 0.5 to 2 microm in diameter immediately beneath the surface of the lens. Eight of 12 patients had elevated serum levels for glucose (6 patients with manifest diabetes mellitus, 2 patients with pathological elevated levels for glucose).

Conclusions: Postoperative opacification of hydrogel foldable lenses (Hydroview(R)) are apperantly caused by formation of crystalline deposits beneath the lens surface. These deposits may be associated with metabolic disorders, e.g. diabetes mellitus.