DAMAGE OF FOLDABLE INTRAOCULAR LENSES BY INCORRECT FOLDER FORCEPS

PURPOSE: To evaluate possible damage of foldable silicone or acrylic i ntraocular lenses caused by the use of incorrect lens folder forceps. METHODS: Ten silicone and 10 acrylic intraocular lenses were divided i nto two groups, each containing five silicone and five acrylic lenses. Two easily mistaken folder forceps, each expressly designed for eithe r silicone or acrylic lenses only, were properly used to fold the intr aocular lenses in group 1 whereas in group 2, the silicone lenses were folded with the forceps designed for the acrylic lenses, and the acry lic lenses were folded with the forceps designed for the silicone lens es. We ob served the lenses by transmission and scanning microscopy af ter folding. RESULT: The acrylic lenses folded with forceps designed f or the silicone lenses (group 2) disclosed considerable damage of the lens optic. CONCLUSION: Incorrect folder forceps may damage acrylic in traocular lenses.