Effect of heparin-surface-modified poly(methyl methacrylate) intraocular lenses on the postoperative inflammation in an Asian population

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of heparin-surface-modified (HSM), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) posterior chamber intraocular lenses (IOLs) with that of unmodified PMMA IOLs in reducing postoperative complications caused by inflammatory reactions after extracapsular cataract extraction in an Asian population.

SETTING: Departments of Ophthalmology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.

METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind study performed at two centers, 51 patients received an HSM PMMA lens and 48, an unmodified PMMA IOL. Cell and pigment deposits were evaluated by slitlamp at 1 to 6 days, 2 to 3 weeks, and 3 to 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS: Significantly more eyes with unmodified IOLs had inflammatory cell deposits than those with HSM IOLs at 3 to 6 months (P < .001) and 12 to 14 months (P = .018) postoperatively. The HSM group also had significantly fewer cell deposits per patient at these two follow-ups. Significantly more eyes in the non-HSM group had pigment deposits 3 to 6 months after surgery (P = .049). One year postoperatively, about 85% of patients in both groups had a best corrected visual acuity of 0.5 or better.

CONCLUSION: Heparin surface modification significantly reduced the inflammatory response to PMMA IOLs in an Asian population for at least 12 to 14 months.