Biocompatibility of surface-modified intraocular lenses.

We evaluated the biocompatibility of three kinds of intraocular lenses: heparin-surface-modified, surface-passivated, and regular poly(methyl methacrylate). Each lens type was implanted in 30 eyes. The cases were followed for one year. Biocompatibility was assessed by the degree of postoperative inflammation and capsule opacification. There was no significant difference between the surface-passivated and regular groups on both indices, but there was less postoperative inflammation in the heparin-surface-modified group. The incidence of posterior capsule opacification was greater in the heparin-surface-modified group than in the surface-passivated and regular groups, but the difference was not statistically significant.