A fully human in vitro capsular bag model to permit intraocular lens evaluation

Lucy J. Dawes, Christopher D. Illingworth, I. Michael Wormstone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose. To establish a fully human in vitro culture model with which to test the putative effects of intraocular lens (IOL) designs in preventing posterior capsule opacification (PCO) after cataract surgery. Methods. A sham cataract operation was performed to prepare human capsular bags from donor lenses. In one capsular bag of a donor pair, an intraocular lens (PMMA round-edge IOL or acrylic IOL) was implanted while the other capsular bag remained aphakic. Bags were transferred to a Petri dish and secured anterior-face down using entomological pins. Capsular bags were maintained in Eagle's minimum essential medium supplemented with 2% human serum and 10 ng/mL TGF-ß to drive growth and matrix contraction. Results. In the absence of an IOL, cells appeared within the central posterior capsule at 4.38 ± 0.26 days, whereas in the presence of a PMMA round-edge IOL or an acrylic IOL they appeared at 8 ± 0.41 days and 11 ± 0.7 days, respectively. Immunocytochemical analysis showed an accumulation of cells at the edge of the acrylic IOL and a less evident accumulation with the PMMA round-edge IOL. Moreover, matrix contraction was more prominent in the absence of an IOL but was still apparent, to a lesser degree, in the presence of a PMMA round-edge IOL. The acrylic IOL greatly suppressed matrix contraction. Conclusions. The authors have developed a fully human in vitro capsular bag system that relates well to clinical observations and permits the testing of novel intraocular lenses.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-29
Number of pages7
JournalInvestigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Volume53
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2012

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