Abstract
Purpose:
It is believed that intraocular lens (IOL) prevent posterior capsule opacification (PCO) typically. However, previous reports also indicated that the development of lens epithelial cells (LECs) is prevented by an aqueous humor. The two theories are contradiction. In this study, we compare development of PCO and anterior capsule contraction between apakia (without IOL) and pseudopakia (with IOL) experimentally to reveal the effects of aqueous humor to LECs.
Methods:
Eyes of 8 weeks albino rabbit weighting 2 kg had phacoemulsification in 2.4mm corneal insertion, after that, the right eyes were inserted IOL (YA-60BBR, HOYA) (IOL group) and the left eyes were not (w/o IOL group). After surgery, the eyes were observed by slit lamp microscope and EAS-1000 (NIDEK) at 1, 2, and 4 weeks post operation. To evaluate anterior capsule contraction, the size of anterior capsule opening was measured by Scion image. In addition, the eyes at 4 weeks post operation were taken and made paraffin sections. For the evaluation of after cataract, the sections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and measured thickness of the LEC layer at the center part of the posterior capsule by a light microscope.
Results:
In the IOL group, fibroblastic changes appeared in anterior chamber, however, there were few fibroblastic changes in the w/o IOL group. The anterior capsule opening area was 3038.3 ± 2559.7 pixels in the IOL group and 10198.3 ± 4259.5 pixels in the w/o IOL group at 4weeks post operation. Anterior capsule contraction in the w/o IOL group was significantly lower than in the IOL group. The thickness of the posterior capsule was 40.9 ± 17.7 μm in the IOL group and 10.1 ± 2.9 μm in the w/o IOL group. The thickness of the posterior capsule in the w/o IOL group was significantly lower than in the IOL group.
Conclusions:
IOL insertion may increase the PCO and the anterior capsule contraction. The aqueous humor may have an important role for proliferations of the LECs.
Keywords: 567 intraocular lens