A NEW MATERIAL FOR INTRAOCULAR-LENS

Purpose The aim of our study was to evaluate a new fluorocarbon (Teflo n AF), used as a coating of polymethylmethacrylate intraocular lenses. Teflon AF can be dissolved in special solvents (liquid fluorocarbons) . It is the first amorphous and transparent form of teflon. Materials and methods The coating was performed and the surface quality of the t eflon-coated lenses was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Twe nty teflon-coated and 10 uncoated lenses were implanted in rabbit eyes after phacoemulsification. They were compared concerning the presence of iris-lens synechias and the number of deposits on the lens' surfac es. An in vitro static touch model was used to compare endothelial dam age produced by the 2 kinds of intraocular lenses. The results from th is model were quantitatively analyzed, using the BIOCOM 200 image-proc essing system. Results The teflon group had no iris-lens synechias and the control group had 2 extensive synechias. There were significantly fewer deposits on the surfaces of teflon-coated lenses on days 30 and 60 post-operatively (P < 0.0001) than on the control lenses. Teflon-c oated lenses produced significantly less endothelial damage than did c ontrol lenses (P < 0.0001). Conclusions Teflon AF presents an anti-adh esive effect that increases the biocompatibility of polymethylmethacry late lenses and reduces endothelial damage during their intraocular in sertion.