Uveal and capsular biocompatibility of 2 foldable acrylic intraocular lenses in patients with uveitis or pseudoexfoliation syndrome: comparison to a control group.

Purpose: To evaluate the uveal and capsular biocompatibility of hydrophilic acrylic (Hydroview) and hydrophobic acrylic (AcrySof) intraocular lenses (IOLs) after phacoemulsification in eyes with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) or uveitis and compare the results with those in a control group.

Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Methods: This prospective nonrandomized comparative trial comprised 143 eyes recruited consecutively. Of these, 49 eyes had PEX, 43 had uveitis, and 51 served as controls. A standardized surgical protocol was used. Cell reaction, anterior (ACO) and posterior (PCO) capsule opacification, and flare were evaluated 1 year after cataract surgery.

Results: Regarding uveal biocompatibility, the number of foreign-body giant cells (FBGCs) increased in proportion to associated ocular pathologies in both IOL groups. The difference between the Hydroview control and Hydroview uveitis groups was statistically significant. The number of FBGCs was greater on AcrySof IOLs than on Hydroview IOLs in all 3 groups. The difference in FBGCs between the 2 IOL types was statistically significant in the control and PEX groups. Regarding capsular biocompatibility, lens epithelial cell (LEC) outgrowth was inversely correlated with intraocular inflammation. Outgrowth was statistically significantly higher with Hydroview IOLs, occurring in 85% in the control group, 45% in the PEX group, and 28% in the uveitis group (P <.0001). With AcrySof lenses, the percentages were 0%, 8%, and 4%, respectively. The PEX and uveitis groups were more likely to develop ACO than the control group (P <.012). There was no statistically significant difference in ACO between the 2 IOL types in the 3 patient groups. The PCO was statistically significantly greater in the uveitis group than in the control group (P <.026) and statistically significantly more dense on Hydroview than on AcrySof IOLs in all 3 patient groups (P <.002). Flare was statistically significantly higher in the uveitis group than in the PEX and control groups with both IOL types (P <.012). There was no statistically significant difference in flare between the 2 IOL types.

Conclusions: Uveal and capsular biocompatibility depends on the intensity of ocular inflammation. The greater the inflammation, the less the biocompatibility of hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylic materials. AcrySof stimulated more FBGCs. The Hydroview material had better uveal but poorer capsular biocompatibility than AcrySof. The sharp optic edge effect of the AcrySof IOL and the advantages of the Hydroview lens in normal eyes are less apparent in compromised eyes.