Cytology of human intraocular lenses. A scanning electron microscopic study.

Scanning electron microscopy of 9 intraocular lenses, removed from patients mainly because of corneal problems, revealed the presence of different types of adhering elements. Independent of clinically significant symptoms of infection, macrophages and/or epitheloid cells and/or granulocytes were observed. On their anterior surface, 3 lenses showed flat cells or cellular remains which are supposed to represent corneal epithelial cells. Membrane fragments were found on 3 other lenses. Most of the polymethylmethacrylate optics of the lenses showed some deformation and/or cracking and to evaluate them some additional studies with new intraocular lenses were performed. High pressure during the preparation procedure for scanning electron microscopy was found to be the cause.