Study of hydrophilic intraocular lenses coated with polyethylene glycol using human lens epithelial cells

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

To evaluate the adhesion of human lens epithelial cells to hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) coated with polyethylene glycol.

 

Methods

 

Primary cultures of lens epithelial cells obtained from human anterior lens capsule were established and seeded in triplicates on the surface of IOLs consisting of a copolymer of hydroxyethyl methacrylate, ethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate (Loflex®, Mediphacos, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) treated or not (controls) with polyethylene glycol. After 26 h, the lenses were washed and trypsinized and the number of viable adherent cells was counted in a hemocytometer. To guarantee the reliability of the results, remnant cells in the residual medium of each triplicate were also counted.

 

Results

 

Significantly lower cell adhesion was observed for treated IOLs compared to untreated lenses (p<0.05). Two proliferation patterns were observed in the cultures: round or dendritic cells. In samples of round cells, no significant difference was observed, but adhesion tended to be higher for untreated IOLs (p=0.421). There was also no significant difference for dendritic cells; however, an expressive tendency towards greater adhesion was observed for untreated IOLs (p=0.095).

 

Conclusions

 

Coating hydrophilic acrylic IOLs with polyethylene glycol was effective in inhibiting cell adhesion (p<0.05) and this treatment may play a role in the posterior capsule opacification prevention.

 

 

Figure 1: Rounded cells proliferating in suspension

 

 

Figure 2: dendritic cells

 

Keywords: 567 intraocular lens