Late postoperative opacification of hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To evaluate the incidence of postoperative opacification of hydrophilic acrylic intraocular lenses (IOLs) and discuss the surgical management. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-two eyes of 72 consecutive patients who received the same type of hydrophilic acrylic IOL (Intraocular Optical International, I.O.I., California, USA) after uneventful phacoemulsification were evaluated retrospectively. Systemic status, follow-up time, recognition time of IOL opacification, time lapse between implantation and explantation, and surgical technique during explantation were reported. RESULTS IOL opacification was noted in 3 patients (4.1%). Time lapse between implantation and first recognition of opacification was 6.3+/-1.5 months (range: 5-8 months). Two of the patients had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and both were on renal dialysis for diabetic nephropathy, whereas one had no systemic disease. Opacified hydrophilic acrylic IOLs were exchanged with Acrysof IOL, and no further opacification occurred after lens exchange. CONCLUSION Use caution on implantation of hydrophilic IOLs because late opacification is a serious complication requiring further surgery.