HEPARIN AND HEPARIN-SURFACE-MODIFICATION REDUCE STAPHYLOCOCCUS-EPIDERMIDIS ADHESION TO INTRAOCULAR LENSES

Bacterial adherence to intraocular lenses (IOLs) could be the cause of endophthalmitis following cataract surgery and lens implantation. The majority of cases of postoperative endophthalmitis are caused by micr oflora that reside on or near the eye of the patient. Staphylococcus e pidermidis commonly colonizes the eyelid margin and conjunctiva and is the most common organism causing postoperative endophthalmitis. In th is study the in vitro adherence of S. epidermidis to regular poly-meth yl methacrylate (PMMA) IOLs and to heparin-surface-modified (HSM) PMMA IOLs was investigated. The effects of heparin and antibiotics in solu tion on the adherence of bacteria to regular PMMA IOLs were evaluated. Adhesion of bacterial cells to IOLs was determined by counting the vi able cells attached to the lenses. Significantly, fewer S. epidermidis attached to HSM-PMMA IOLs and to regular PMMA IOLs treated with hepar in than to PMMA IOLs (p < 0.001). Furthermore, bacteria attached in si gnificantly lower numbers to regular PMMA IOLs treated with heparin th an to HSM-PMMA IOLs (p = 0.0031). Antibiotics in solution had no signi ficant effect on bacterial adherence to PMMA IOLs. These data indicate that the use of HSM-PMMA IOLs and treatment of PMMA IOLs with heparin could diminish the incidence of postoperative endophthalmitis and int raocular inflammation associated with IOL implantation.