Influence of intraocular lens haptic material on bacterial isolates from anterior chamber aspirate.

PURPOSE: To determine whether intraocular lens (IOL) type affects the bacterial count in anterior chamber aspirates obtained immediately after cataract surgery.

SETTING

L.V. Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India.

METHODS

This in vivo study evaluated two groups of eyes that had uneventful cataract extraction and implantation of one of two types of IOLs: all poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (n = 73) or polypropylene haptic (n = 83). Anterior chamber fluid aspirates (0.1 mL) were obtained with a 30 gauge cannula at the end of surgery and inoculated onto chocolate agar and in thioglycolate broth. Microbiology evaluation was performed using standard methods.

RESULTS

Seven eyes (9.5%) with all-PMMA IOLs and 21 (25.3%) with polypropylene haptic IOLs were positive for bacterial isolates (P = .0322; chi-square test). Mean colony count (+/-SD) was 11.43 +/- 3.78 and 13.16 +/- 4.78 colony-forming units/ milliliter in the PMMA and polypropylene haptic IOL groups, respectively. No eye developed endophthalmitis.

CONCLUSION

Polypropylene haptic IOLs were associated with a significant increase in bacteria in the anterior chamber.