Late opacification of the foldable hydrophilic acrylic lens SC60B-OUV

Objective: To investigate the cause of severe central opacification in 41 f oldable acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) requiring explantation. Another I OL was opacified in the original sealed vial. Design: Case series and laboratory analysis. Testing: Light microscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, sodium d odecyl sulfate polyacoylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrometric analysis, and autoclaving. Results: Neither fatty acids nor proteins could be identified within the IO Ls. Spectrometric analysis yielded absorption peaks in the ultraviolet spec tral range. Conclusions: The spectroscopic findings indicate premature aging of the ult raviolet blocking agent. The source of the opacification is a change in the IOL material itself. Ophthalmology 2001;108:1999-2004(C) 2001 by the Ameri can Academy of Ophthalmology.