Toxicity Study of Perfluorocarbon Liquids vs. Balanced Saline Solution in Human Lenses

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To compare the degree of opacification of human lenses immersed in perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCLs) vs. balanced saline solution (BSS). Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, experimental and descriptive study. We used ten crystalline lenses from ten babies (age range, 4 -24 months) with stage 5 retinopathy of prematurity that underwent an open-sky vitrectomy. Use of human tissue in this study conformed to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki and parents signed a written consent approved by the Institutional Review Board. In all eyes, intraocular open sky cryoextraction (exactly six seconds) of a clear crystalline lens was performed by the same surgeon using the same surgical technique. Immediately after extraction, lenses were placed in separated glass vials; six were immersed in perfluoro-n-octane and four in BSS; all were incubated for 10 days at 37°C. Evaluation of the transparency was done by daily digital photography. At the end of the observation period, lens opacification was arbitrarily graded from 0 to 3 (grade 0, no opacification; grade 1, minimal; grade 2: moderate; grade 3: total opacification). Results: At the end of the observation period (day 10), lenses immersed in BSS were completely opacified (grade 3) and the lenses immersed in PFCLs were partly opacified (grades 1 and 2). Histologic study revealed no difference between each group. Conclusions: Human baby lenses incubated in PFCLs remained relatively clear as opposed to lens in BSS. An isolation effect with decrease in oxidation and hydration should be considered.

Keywords: ocular irritancy/toxicity testing • lesion study