Intraocular lens thickness and ocular growth in newborn rabbits.

PURPOSE

To examine ocular growth in newborn rabbits with a thick or a thin silicone intraocular lens implanted.

METHODS

Bilateral lensectomy was performed in twelve 23-day-old rabbits. All eyes were implanted with a silicone intraocular lens (IOL) with polypropylene haptics (Allergan Medical Optics SI 26 NB). In each rabbit, one eye was selected at random and a +12 diopter IOL with a centre thickness of 1.10 mm was implanted in the capsular bag. In the other eye a +24 diopter IOL with a centre thickness of 1.83 mm was implanted. Axial length, corneal diameter, corneal thickness and intraocular pressure were measured in all eyes preoperatively, and then 1, 2 and 3 months after surgery. The wet mass of the after-cataract was measured 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Both the axial length and the corneal diameter were significantly increased in eyes implanted with the thicker silicone IOL. No significant difference in corneal thickness or intraocular pressure was found between the eyes. No correlation was found between the IOL-thickness and the wet mass of the after-cataract.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that in the young rabbit eye the thickness of an implanted IOL influences eye growth.