All the operations were performed by the same surgeon (YK). All the rabbits underwent bilateral phacoemulsification with IOL implantation. All the rabbits underwent a standardized small-incision phacoemulsification with capsular bag IOL implantation using an injector (The Unfolder Emerald, AMO, Santa Anna, CA, USA). Local anaesthesia was induced by instillation of oxybuprocaine hydrochloride three times concomitantly with cyclopentolate hydrochloride. Pupil dilatation was performed by instillation of cyclopentolate hydrochloride three times. The rabbits were anaesthetized with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine chloride (35 and 5 mg/kg body weight i.m., respectively). The lens used in this study was a three-piece acrylic lens (AR40e, AMO, Santa Anna, CA, USA). All research adhered to the guidelines of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Statement for the Use of Animals in Ophthalmic and Vision Research. Here, we investigated the influence of acute uveitis on the ocular inflammatory reaction following implantation with acrylic IOL.Īdult albino rabbits (New Zealand white, 2–2.5 kg) were maintained individually under conventional conditions at the Kochi Medical School animal facility. 7 The biocompatibility of acrylic IOLs in uveitic patients has been examined 8, 9, 10 however, comparison of implantation of acrylic IOLs in acute uveitic eyes with nonuveitic eyes has not yet been reported. Indeed, in 2002, a survey by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery demonstrated that acrylic IOLs were preferred by 69% of cataract surgeons. Small incision cataract surgery has recently become popular and therefore, foldable acrylic IOLs are increasingly being used. Lundgren et al 6 examined cellular reactions after IOL (polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) lens and heparin-surface modified (HSM) lens) implantation in rabbits with endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU), a model of acute anterior uveitis. 5 These results support the clinical observation that a large number of cells attach to the surfaces of IOL in patients with uveitis.įew in vivo studies in animal models of uveitis are available. 4 In addition, the attachment to the surfaces of IOLs by uveitogenic cells was further augmented by the presence of uveitogenic antigen. In vitro studies conducted with uveitogenic T cells or splenocytes demonstrated that uveitogenic cells attached to the surfaces of IOLs more than control cells obtained from naïve rats. However, some uveitic patients still develop severe intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery. 2 Recent advances in cataract surgery, including use of phacoemulsification machines and newly developed IOLs, have suppressed ocular inflammation after cataract surgery in patients with uveitis. Intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery is well known to be more common and severe in patients with uveitis than in patients without ocular complications. 1 In such cases, cataract extraction followed by intraocular lens (IOL) implantation is necessary to improve visual acuity. The data suggest that the hydrophobic acrylic IOLs may be suitable for patients with uveitis.Ĭataract, a common complication of uveitis, can cause visual disturbance. ConclusionsĪt 7 days after the operation, inflammatory reactions in eyes implanted with the hydrophobic acrylic IOLs were similar in uveitic eyes and nonuveitic eyes. However, 7 days later, inflammatory reactions subsided and no clear differences in any of the parameters examined were observed between the two groups. Similarly, more inflammatory cells attached to the surfaces of the IOLs in the LPS-injected group. ResultsĪt 1 day after intravitreal injection, both the infiltrating cell number in AH and protein concentration of AH were significantly higher in the LPS-injected group than in the PBS-injected group. The infiltrating cell number in AH was counted and the protein concentration of AH was measured. Aqueous humour (AH) and IOLs were harvested 1, 3, and 7 days after the intravitreal injection.

One group (nine rabbits) received intravitreal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 ng/10 μl) into both eyes to induce endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) and the other group (nine rabbits) received intravitreal injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 10 μl) into both eyes as the control. Just after the operation, rabbits were divided into two groups. MethodsĬlear lens removal (phacoemulsification and aspiration) was conducted and the hydrophobic acrylic IOL (AR40e, AMO) was implanted in adult albino rabbits. To investigate whether inflammatory responses are more severe in uveitic eyes than nonuveitic eyes when acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted after cataract surgery.

Unfolder for the ar40e