[Hydrogel posterior chamber lenses--an improvement?].

Although the design of PMMA intraocular lenses has reached a stage of sophistication at which further modifications are unlikely to result in any major improvements in implant surgery, new materials with possibly improved mechanical and biologic properties should be evaluated carefully. The hydrogel lens (containing 38% poly-HEMA) is a soft, flexible, hydrophilic "single-piece" posterior chamber lens which could help to minimize intraoperative and postoperative IOL trauma. Fifty hydrogel intraocular lenses were implanted during a ten-month period using a standard extracapsular cataract extraction technique. Implantation was considered easy in most cases. As regards biocompatibility, stability of lens position, and visual acuity, the postoperative results are promising. In the follow-up period reported on, no central opacification of the posterior lens capsule was observed.