Continuous Edge Design Inhibits Cell Migration on Hydrophilic IOL

In a recently published article (Ocular Surgery News, January 2006) entitled “Continuous edge design inhibits cell migration on hydrophilic IOL”, Mr. Ashok Vyas, Scarborough, UK commented that the Rayner C-flex® IOL (570C) provided a “barrier to lens epithelial cell migration, even at the optic-haptic junction, because of a ridge that encircled the entire periphery of the lens”.

Mr. Vyas echoed the research results of Professor David Apple in the United States, describing the optic-haptic junction as “a place from where lens epithelial cells can grow and extend centripetally behind the optic – an Achilles Heel of other lens designs”. He also commented favourably on the stability and centration of the C-flex® lens design, emphasising its suitability for small incision surgery with a “specially designed injector”.

In a study involving 40 consecutive eyes without comorbidity, C-flex® lenses were implanted following routine cataract surgery. A series of retroillumination photographs were taken at the 6, 10, 18 and 24-month follow-up visits and lens epithelial cell proliferation and posterior capsular opacification (PCO) were analysed.

Mr. Vyas noted that none of the eyes required YAG capsulotomy and added that “Two years is a very acceptable follow-up to say that yes, this design is working”. Photographs of the optic-haptic junction and the optic and haptic rims showed a “complete barrier effect to epithelial cell growth” and furthermore, Mr. Vyas reported that it could be clearly observed that any migrating lenses had “stopped at the Enhanced Square Edge” and that “none of them were passing beyond the Enhanced Square Edge at the optic-haptic junction”.

Anti-vaulting haptic technology is another feature of the C-flex^® lens that sets it apart from other lens designs and in another study of 300 eyes, Mr. Vyas reported “no decentration of the IOL greater than 0.5mm”, explaining that centration and stability were of particular importance to multifocal or toric lens designs and that both multifocal and toric versions of the lens were now being made.