Heparin-surface-modified intraocular lenses in pediatric cataract surgery: prospective randomized study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of heparin-surface-modified (HSM) intraocular lenses (IOLs) in pediatric eyes after cataract surgery.

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

METHODS: This prospective, randomized, double-masked, controlled clinical trial comprised 90 children aged 2 to 14 years with cataract. The patients were consecutively randomized to receive an HSM (Group 1) or an unmodified (Group 2) poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) IOL. Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with IOL implantation was performed in children 8 years and older and ECCE with primary posterior capsulotomy, anterior vitrectomy, and IOL implantation in children younger than 8 years. Outcome parameters were inflammatory cell deposits on the IOL surface, posterior synechias, and anterior chamber reaction.

RESULTS: Follow-up data were available for 73, 70, 60, and 68 patients at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. Significantly fewer cell deposits were noted in Group 1 at 1, 3, and 6 months (P < .001). Synechia formation and anterior chamber reaction were comparable in the 2 groups.

CONCLUSION: The lower incidence of inflammatory cell deposit formation in eyes with HSM PMMA IOLs indicates that these IOLs have greater bicompatibility than unmodified IOLs in pediatric cataract surgery.