Bacterial adhesion to rigid and foldable posterior chamber intraocular lenses: in vitro study

PURPOSE: To determine the in vitro bacterial adherence to intraocular lenses (IOLs) routinely used at 1 center. SETTING: University Hospital of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. METHODS: Four types of rigid IOLs (hydrophobic poly[methyl methacrylate] [PMMA] and hydrophilic heparin-surface-modified PMMA) and 5 types of foldable intraocular lenses (hydrophobic silicone, hydrophobic acrylic, and hydrophilic acrylic) were used in the experiment. Under standardized conditions, the IOLs were contaminated with 2 strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis. A sonication method and impression method were used for quantification. The mean bacterial density per lens type (colony forming units/mm(2)) was compared. RESULTS: With both germs and both quantification methods, more bacteria was found on hydrophobic lenses than on IOLs with hydrophilic surfaces (P =.001). The Alcon AcrySof and Askin UV80F IOLs had the greatest and the Corneal Acrygel and Bausch & Lomb Hydroview IOLs the least affinity to these microorganisms. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that hydrophilic IOLs can help reduce the rate of postoperative endophthalmitis as a result of their surface properties.