MINI-HAPTICS TO IMPROVE CAPSULAR FIXATION OF PLATE-HAPTIC SILICONE INTRAOCULAR LENSES

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a new mini-hepatic design on the s trength and stability of capsular bag fixation of plate-hepatic silico ne intraocular lenses (IOLs) and determine whether this design encoura ges the growth of regenerating lens material or fibrous tissue around the hepatic biomaterial and thus improves lens fixation in the capsula r bag. Setting: Center for Research on Ocular Therapeutics and Biodevi ces, Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Depart ment of Ophthalmology, Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Methods: Six r abbits had bilateral continous curvilinear capsulorhexis, phacoemulsif ication, and plate-hepatic silicone IOL implantation. Each rabbit had a small-hole plate IOL (Chiron C10UB) implanted in the right eye and a mini-hepatic plate IOL (Chiron C40UB) in the left eye. All rabbits we re killed at 2 months. The force required the extract one haptic from the capsular bag was measured with a digital force gauge. Histopatholo gic analysis was performed on all specimens. Results: The mini-hepatic style IOLs required significantly more extraction force than the smal l-hole design (P = .011). Histopathologically, proliferating lens epit helial cells were observed growing circumferentially around the mini-h aptics, causing a 360 degree synechia formation. This formation did no t occur with the conventional small-hole plate IOLs used as the contro l. Conclusions: Lens epithelial cell proliferation around the mini-hap tics significantly improved capsular bag fixation of the plate-haptic silicone IOL. This should decrease the incidence of clinical decentrat ion and dislocation.