Changes in Opacification of Hydrophobic Acrylic Intraocular Lenses According to Temperature and Hydration

PURPOSE: To investigate optic opacification of hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) depending on hydration and temperature conditions. METHODS: IOL (Acrysof(®) MA60BM Alcon, Fort Worth, Texas, USA) extracted from a 55-year-old male who underwent binocular cataract 11 years ago were used for the analysis. On slit lamp examination, the binocular IOL optics showed homogenous opacification. After extraction of the IOLs, the IOL opacification disappeared during dry storage at 4°C. To investigate the changes in IOL opacification according to temperature and hydration, an extracted IOL was stored in either dry conditions or normal saline at 4°C, room temperature, or 37°C for 24 hours, and then the degree of haziness was examined. To investigate the impact of an opaque optic on visual function, light transmission was performed using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer (U-3000, Hitachi High-Technologies Corp., Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: The extracted IOL optics at 4°C, room temperature, and 37°C were transparent at dry conditions. When the dried IOL was immersed in normal saline at room temperature and 37°C, opacification appeared. However, when the dried IOL was immersed in normal saline at 4°C, opacification of the IOL did not appear. When compared with the control, light transmission of the extracted IOLs from the right and left eyes stored in 37°C normal saline decreased by 4.7% at 453 nm and by 5.1% at 482 nm, respectively. CONCLUSION: In acrylic hydrophobic IOLs, optic opacification can occur depending on temperature and hydration conditions.