Corneal endothelial protection by heparin and sodium hyaluronate surface coating of PMMA intraocular lenses

Abstract

Protective effect on corneal endothelium from surface modification of PMMA intraocular lenses were evaluated. Sodium hyaluronate, heparin or both were covalently bound to the PMMA surface rendering it hydrophilic. Endothelial damage was evaluated by placing the intraocular lens optics on the endothelial surface of excised rabbit corneas. The type and extent of endothelial cell damage was evaluated by light microscopy after alizarine red/trypan blue staining and by scanning electron microscopy. The number of endothelial cells attached to the intraocular lens surface was counted in the light microscope after staining with haematoxylin--eosine. Significantly less damage (p less than 0.05) to the endothelium was caused by the surface modified hydrophilic intraocular lenses. There was no difference between the various types of surface coatings studied in this investigation.