Posters

Automated injectors and preloaded delivery systems: evaluation of the corneal incision architecture by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM)

Poster Details

First Author: R. Mencucci ITALY

Co Author(s):    E. Favuzza   M. Vassillo   O. Caporossi   D. Allen           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To evaluate by Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) the corneal incision architecture after intraocular lens (IOL) implantation in pig eyes, using manual, automated injectors or preloaded delivery systems.

Setting:

Eye Clinic, University of Florence, Italy

Methods:

24 pig eyes underwent IOL implantation in the anterior chamber using three different injectors: manual injector (Monarch III, Alcon) (8 eyes); automated injector(Autosert, Alcon) (8 eyes); preloaded delivery system (Ultrasert, Alcon) (8 eyes). Alcon Acrysof SN60WF IOL, 21 D (n=12) e and 27D(n=12) were implanted through 2.2 mm clear corneal incisions. After implantation, final incision size was measured using corneal calipers. The corneal endothelial side of the incision was immediately analyzed with ESEM (Quanta 200, FEI): the overall profile of the incision and the aspect of the inner stroma were evaluated, the Descemet membrane tears were measured (Image J software).

Results:

In all groups the final size of the corneal wound after IOL implantation, measured by calipers, was 2.3 mm. The wound architecture was more irregular in the manual group compared with the other injectors. In every group the 27 D IOL-implanted specimens showed more alterations than in 21D IOL-implanted samples, and this was less evident in the preloaded group. The length of Descemet tears length was higher in the manual group than automated and preloaded group, even if the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

The automated and preloaded delivery systems provided a good corneal surgical wound architecture; after 27 D IOL implantation the incisions were more regular and less damaged with the preloaded system than with the other devices.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE