Mechanized model to assess capsulorhexis resistance to tearing.

PURPOSE

To evaluate a model of mechanically measuring resistance to tearing of a continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) using the entire capsular bag of fresh human cadaver eyes isolated from the eyes after complete evacuation.

SETTING

John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.

DESIGN

Experimental study.

METHODS

After the cornea and iris were removed, a 5.0 to 5.5 mm anterior CCC was created. The nucleus was hydroexpressed and the capsular bag evacuated by irrigation/aspiration. A pair of metal shoetree-shaped fixtures, designed based on human lens geometric dimensions, were implanted separately in the capsular bag and assembled together with a screw nut. After complete zonulectomy, the fixture-capsular bag assembly was removed from the eye and loaded onto a mechanical tester. The fixtures were separated at a velocity of 7.0 mm/min in 0.15 μm intervals to stretch the CCC to its rupture point. Rupture load (N) and extension were measured and graphed.

RESULTS

Testing of 23 donor eyes a mean of 69.04 hours ± 22.72 (SD) after death showed the following mean values: CCC diameter, 5.3 ± 0.12 mm; load, 0.39 ± 0.16 N; extension at CCC tearing, 5.85 ± 1.17 mm. There was a moderately strong negative correlation between donor age and load (P = .0018).

CONCLUSIONS

Previous mechanized methods of assessing CCC strength used excised anterior capsules or partially phacoemulsified crystalline lenses, yielding lower tension strength values. This force-displacement method may facilitate assessment of small differences between anterior capsulotomy techniques.