Polysulfone corneal lenses.

Polysulfone is a thermoplastic compound first synthesized in 1965. A unique characteristic of polysulfone is its high refractive index (1.633), which allows very thin optical lenses to be manufactured. Over the last five years, D. Peter Choyce has surgically implanted over 40 polysulfone lenses into eyes of his patients. Analysis of his data indicates that polysulfone intraocular lenses are capable of correcting large refractive errors. Based on his work, a multicenter study was undertaken to evaluate the safety and efficacy of polysulfone as an intracorneal lens material in laboratory models. Four monkeys, eight baboons, and 24 cats were used as laboratory models; 5.0-mm to 6.0-mm diameter hyperopic (+28.5 diopter) and myopic (-17.0 and -25.5 diopter) lenses were surgically implanted within the corneal stroma in one eye of each of the laboratory models while a sham lamellar dissection was performed in the other eye. One hundred percent (4/4) of monkey eyes, 12.5% (1/8) of baboon eyes, and 70.0% (18/24) of cat eyes maintained clear media by ophthalmoscopic examination at follow-ups ranging from three to six months. Complications included both visually and nonvisually significant interface opacities, lens extrusion, anterior corneal necrosis, refractile particles, and epithelial thinning.