DISORDERS OF THE BLOOD-AQUEOUS BARRIER AF TER IMPLANTATION OF TRANSSCLERALLY SUTURED POSTERIOR CHAMBER LENSES - EARLY POSTOPERATIVE PHASE AND LONG-TERM RESULTS

The implantation of transsclerally sutured posterior chamber lenses (P CL) leads to greater trauma to the eye than endocapsular PCL implantat ion. Persistent breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier might impair th e postoperative long-term prognosis. Using laser-tyndallometry, we qua ntified the disorder of the barrier function during the early postoper ative phase and in the long-term postoperative course for both surgica l procedures. During the first 3 postoperative days, flare Values were three times higher in the group with transsclerally sutured PCL than in the conventional PCL group. Cell counts after transscleral suture f ixation (27.7 +/- 18.3/0.075 mm(3)) decreased slightly during the firs t 5 postoperative days. In contrast,the conventional PCL group regaine d the preoperative level (2.5 +/- 5.1) after 3 days. After 3 months, n o significant differences in flare values and cell counts were seen be tween the two groups. After implantation of transsclerally sutured pos terior chamber lenses, breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier was init ially more pronounced than in conventional PCL implantation. However,t he barrier function was re-established equally in both groups in the l ong term. No signs of a persistent disorder of the barrier were found.