New exploration of ions and fatty acids in hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lens calcification

Abstract

Purpose:To conduct a new exploration and analysis of the ion and fatty acid levels of a medium in which calcified hydrophilic intraocular lenses (IOLs) are present.Setting:Qingdao Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Qingdao, China.Design:Retrospective, laboratory observational case series.Methods:11 patients (11 eyes) who had implantation of foldable hydrophilic acrylic posterior IOLs were found to have opacification of the IOLs. In vivo and in vitro analyses included the evaluation of patients' clinical characteristics, microscopy, histological staining, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), the ion level of the aqueous humor (AH) and preserving fluid (PF), and the fatty acid content of AH.Results:10 of 11 cases were female with unilateral opacification, and 7 cases had both-eye cataract surgery, including 1 first eye and 6 second eyes with IOL opacification. 4 types of similar serial numbers were counted. The analysis of AH showed that the concentrations of phosphorus and silicon were elevated but that of calcium decreased, and an increased level of silicon was detected in 3 random PFs. The palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) fatty acids were higher than the others in the AH. The EDS confirmed that the IOL surface deposits were composed of calcium, phosphate, and a small amount of silicon.Conclusions:More silicon and higher C16:0 and C18:0 were found in the AH of patients with IOL opacification. New ideas and avenues have been proposed in the study of IOL opacification.