The inflammatory response to secondary methylmethacrylate challenge in lens-implanted rabbits.

Polymethylmethacrylate intraocular-lens-implanted rabbits were challenged with subcutaneous polymeric or monomeric methylmethacrylate. The inflammatory response to this secondary challenge was compared to that at the site of sham procedures and to that in control rabbits never exposed to methylmethacrylate. There was a definite granulomatous inflammatory response to both polymeric and monomeric methylmethacrylate. There was, however, no secondary enhancement of this inflammatory response at the site of subcutaneous challenge or exacerbation of intraocular inflammation in lens-implanted rabbits, thus substantiating the nonimmunogenicity of methylmethacrylate.