New hydrophobic acrylic IOL material demonstrates anti-glistening properties

The authors conducted this study to determine the hydrophobic, anti-glistening and bioadhesive properties of a new-generation hydrophobic acrylic polymer, GF raw material (Physiol S.A.), and its suitability for use in IOLs. They found that when equilibrated in aqueous medium, the material reached a low water content at equilibrium, making it glistening-free. Its hydrophobicity and bioadhesiveness were comparable to those of state-of-the-art reference materials. They report in the July issue of the Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery that its combination of hydrophobic acrylic composition, glistening-free optical component and bioadhesiveness will likely lead to low posterior capsule opacification rates and a high level of in-the-bag biomechanical stability.

The new material was tested and compared with reference acrylic materials: hydrophobic Acrysof IQ SN60WF material, hydrophobic Sensar AR40e material, and hydrophilic Ioflex IOL material. The stability of their polymer matrix was estimated by testing for glistenings. The relative surface hydrophobicity was quantified via contact-angle measurements. The degrees of bioadhesiveness of the materials were assessed by in vitro porcine lens epithelial cell (LEC) culture.

The glistening test showed that the new material had greater stability under worst-case conditions than previous-generation hydrophobic acrylic materials. The new polymer had the same hydrophobic properties as the hydrophobic Acrysof IQ SN60WF material; both materials were less hydrophobic than the hydrophobic Sensar AR40e material and more hydrophobic than the hydrophilic Ioflex IOL material. The bioadhesiveness tests showed that porcine LEC adhesion levels of the new material were intermediate with respect to those of the two reference hydrophobic materials.

The authors conclude that this new-generation GF raw material for IOLs is appropriate for intracorporeal application in the human body, with a composition that combines the advantages of hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylic IOL materials. Its 4.9 percent equilibrium water content would allow an IOL to be packaged in a physiologic solution that has a composition similar to that of the intraocular liquids before IOL implantation. Therefore, this material would not be subjected to supplementary environmental stress postoperatively, which, in contrast to other materials, such as the Acrysof IQ SN60WF and Sensar AR40e IOL materials, promotes the absence of glistenings.