Prevention of Secondary PCO Using Treated Intraocular Lenses

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Secondary cataract is still among the most difficult and important problems for ophthalmology. In this study, to prevent secondary posterior subcapsular cataract (PCO), we tested a drug delivered using hydrophilic intraocular lens (IOL) tested in vitro with selected agents that act on cell proliferation and adhesion. Methods: Eight-week old white rabbits were anesthetized and their lenses were dissected. Lens epithelial cells (LECs) were isolated and cultured in MEM with 12% FBS (fetal bovine serum), at 37C ° under 5%CO₂. Culture dishes and collagen culture inserts (Falcon collagen type I membranes) were prepared. Hydrophilic IOLs (H60M, Bausch & Lomb) were immersed in distilled water (control group), dicrofenac sodium, tranilast, colchicine, mitomycin C (MMC), 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), or EDTA for 3 hours at 37C °. The treated IOLs were placed above the collagen inserts and 30,000 cells/ml LECs with MEM were added to each culture. The culture dishes were incubated for 5 days and development of LECs was stopped using 10% formaldehyde. The LECs were observed in each culture using light microscopy (DX51, ORIMPUS) after hematoxylin and eosin staining and the morphology and area of coverage of cells on the IOLs were analyzed using scion image (Scion). Results: LECs adhered to the IOL surface and developed on the collagen membrane in the control group. However, the adhesion and development of LECs were prevented using IOLs treated with dicrofenac, tranilast, colchicine and 5-FU. Conclusions: A hydrophobic IOL may provide an effective drug delivery system to prevent secondary PCO in the future.

Keywords: cataract • posterior capsular opacification (PCO) • drug toxicity/drug effects