PCO Rates in a Large Series of Human Eyes Obtained Postmortem

A significant amount of information can be obtained from pathological analyses of pseudophakic human eyes obtained postmortem in terms of interactions between an intraocular lens material/design and surrounding ocular tissues. The ability to perform direct analyses of an entire organ containing an artificial implant, obtained at different intervals after implantation and in large numbers, is unique to Ophthalmology. In our laboratory located at the Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, we have analyzed more than 600 donor eyes implanted with different lenses. In this chapter we describe some of our major studies using these important specimens, which focused on capsular bag opacification. Relatively large series of eyes were used to compare 1- and 3-piece hydrophobic acrylic lenses in terms of posterior capsule opacification. The outcome of this complication was also compared between 3-piece silicone lenses with round or square posterior optic edges. Furthermore, we had the opportunity to evaluate a small number of eyes implanted with the bag-in-the-lens, which is not available in the United States. We expect to gain better knowledge on preventative measures for posterior capsule opacification and other complications as our series increases and new intraocular lens designs become available in the market.