Effect of posterior convexity of intraocular lenses on lens epithelial cell migration.

PURPOSE To investigate in vitro how the posterior convexity of an intraocular lens (IOL) affected the migration of lens epithelial cells (LECs) under its optic. METHODS Porcine LECs were cultured for 9 days with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOLs in a cell culture chamber insert containing a collagen membrane on which the IOLs were implanted. The central sagittal optic depths of the implanted IOLs were 0, 0.158, 0.303, and 0.452 mm. The migration of LECs was observed with an inverted phase microscope. The cell-free area under the IOL optic, where LECs had not migrated, was measured. RESULTS As time elapsed, LECs migrated onto the collagen membrane beneath the IOL optics from the periphery to the central area in a concentric fashion in all IOL configurations. At 5 days in culture, the greater central sagittal optic depths of the IOL optic were associated with wider cell-free areas (P=.0108). At 9 days in culture, LECs almost completely covered the collagen membrane under IOLs with 0-, 0.158- and 0.303-mm central sagittal optic depth whereas the cell-free area under the 0.452-mm IOL was 4.3+/-3.0% (P=.0029). CONCLUSIONS The posterior convexity of an IOL optic has an inhibitory effect on LEC migration under the optic. However, this inhibition had little effect after 9 days in culture.