Ex vivo observation of intraocular lens unfolding

Abstract Observation of intraocular lens (IOL) haptic unfolding after insertion into the capsular bag is important for understanding and evaluating IOL fixation in cataract surgery. To stimulate IOL haptic unfolding under conditions similar to those in the anterior chamber of living porcine eyes, an aluminum eye holder maintaining the ocular surface at body temperature, an iris-free porcine eye preparation, and vertical and tilted surgical microscope views to visualize contact at the capsular equator were employed. Haptic unfolding of three one-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOLs (CNL0T0 with C-loops and hinged haptics, XY1-SP with C-loops without hinged haptics, and PODF GF with double C-loop haptics) was observed. The total unfolding times and contact conditions between the haptics and the capsular equator were different among the IOLs. The present observation setup enabled understanding of haptic unfolding.