OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cause of severe central opacification in 41 foldable acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) requiring explantation. Another IOL was opacified in the original sealed vial. DESIGN: Case series and laboratory analysis. TESTING: Light microscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacoylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrometric analysis, and autoclaving. RESULTS: Neither fatty acids nor proteins could be identified within the IOLs. Spectrometric analysis yielded absorption peaks in the ultraviolet spectral range. CONCLUSIONS: The spectroscopic findings indicate premature aging of the ultraviolet blocking agent. The source of the opacification is a change in the IOL material itself.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the cause of severe central opacification in 41 foldable acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) requiring explantation. Another IOL was opacified in the original sealed vial. DESIGN: Case series and laboratory analysis. TESTING: Light microscopy, high performance liquid chromatography, sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacoylamide gel electrophoresis, spectrometric analysis, and autoclaving. RESULTS: Neither fatty acids nor proteins could be identified within the IOLs. Spectrometric analysis yielded absorption peaks in the ultraviolet spectral range. CONCLUSIONS: The spectroscopic findings indicate premature aging of the ultraviolet blocking agent. The source of the opacification is a change in the IOL material itself.