Lens epithelial cell ongrowth: comparison of 6 types of hydrophilic intraocular lens models

PURPOSE: To compare the ongrowth of lens epithelial cells (LECs) on the anterior surface of 6 different hydrophilic intraocular lenses (IOLs). SETTING: Medical University of Vienna, Department of Ophthalmology and Optometry, Vienna, Austria. METHODS: Six models of hydrophilic IOLs were compared in this prospective study: Visionflex A-100 (Distra Softcryl), Rayner Centerflex 570H (Rayner), Collamer CC4204BF-IOL (Staar), Injectacryl F 3000 (Distra), Hydroview H60M (Bausch & Lomb), and MemoryLens (ORC). Postoperative biomicroscopic examinations were performed 1, 3, 7, 30, 90, 180, and 365 days after surgery. Lens epithelial cells in each quadrant of the anterior capsule-free lens surface were graded. The product with the highest density and the number of quadrants with this density were used to measure LEC ongrowth. RESULTS: The Hydroview and Visionflex IOLs showed significantly more LECs than the other IOLs starting on day 7 after surgery (P < .028). There was a statistically significant difference in LEC ongrowth on the Memory IOL compared with all other IOLs from day 30 onward (P < .001). The Rayner, Collamer and Injectacryl IOLs had the fewest LECs on the anterior surface compared with all other IOLs from day 7 until the final examination. CONCLUSIONS: The findings show that LEC ongrowth on the IOL surface is material dependent. The findings suggest that the material of the recently developed hydrophilic IOLs induces less LEC ongrowth than older models.