Inflammatory Reaction Following Cataract Surgery With Implantation of Acrylic Intraocular Lens in Rabbits With Endotoxin–Induced Uveitis

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To investigate whether inflammatory responses are more severe in uveitic eyes than non–uveitic eyes when acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted after cataract surgery. Methods: Adult albino rabbits received cataract surgery (phacoemulsification and aspiration) with implantation of acrylic IOL (AR40e, AMO). Just after the operation, rabbits were divided into two groups. One group received intravitreal injection of LPS (100 ng/10 µl) into both eyes to induce endotoxin–induced uveitis (EIU), and the other group (10 µl) received PBS into both eyes as a control. Twenty–four hours or 7 days after the intravitreal injection, aqueous humor (AH) and IOL were harvested. Infiltrating cell number in AH was counted and protein concentration of AH was measured. IOL was evaluated by morphology. Results: Twenty–four hours after intravitreal injection, both infiltrating cell number in AH and protein concentration of AH was significantly higher in LPS–injected group than PBS–injected group. Similarly, more inflammatory cells attached to the surface of IOL in LPS–injected group. However, 7 days later, inflammatory reactions subsided and no clear differences were observed between the two groups in all the parameters. Conclusions: Seven days after the operation, inflammatory reactions in eyes with acrylic IOL were similar between uveitic eyes and non–uveitic eyes. The data suggest that acrylic IOL may be suitable for patients with uveitis.

Keywords: uveitis-clinical/animal model • inflammation • pathology: experimental