ABSTRACT
Objective:
To study the effect of
cyclosporine A drug delivery system (CsA-DDS) on the prevention of posterior
capsule opacification (PCO) after experimental
intraocular lens implantation in
rabbit eyes.
Methods:
Twenty healthy
New Zealand white rabbits, whose left
eyes and right
eyes were used respectively as experiment
eyes and controls, were subjected to extracapsular lens extraction and artificial lens implantation. During the operation, CsA-DDS with poly (lactideco-glycolide) as carriers or empty DDS was implanted in the capsular bag for the experimental
eyes and controls respectively. After the operation,
anterior chamber reaction,
intraocular pressure (IOP) and CsA concentration were monitored and twelve weeks after the operation, the
eyes were extracted for histopathological and morphological examinations.
Results:
There were no differences between the two groups in conjunctival congestion, IOP change and
anterior chamber reaction. PCO was less severe in the experimental
eyes than in the controls.
Light microscopy revealed that posterior capsular
membrane in the experimental
eyes was slick, with no obvious proliferation, whereas in the controls, there were lens
epithelial cell proliferation and cortex
regeneration of different degrees. Morphological examination with
electron microscope showed that in the experimental
eyes, lens
epithelial cells did not function actively and
apoptosis occurred, whereas in the controls,
epithelial cells presented active function. No marked ultrastructural changes were found in either group.
Conclusion:
Cs-DDS can inhibit PCO after
intraocular lens implantation in
rabbit eyes and does not have
toxic effects on the surrounding ocular
tissues. Therefore, it has a good potential for clinical use in prevention of PCO.