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New developments in drug-eluting intraocular lenses (IOLs) and surface modifications for prevention of cataract postoperative complications

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First Author: I.Mylona GREECE

Co Author(s):    M. Glynatsis   I. Tsinopoulos                 

Abstract Details

Purpose:

The purpose of this systematic review is to assess the progress in the field of drug-eluting IOLs and related surface modifications that aim to prevent post-operative complications over the last five years.

Setting:

2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Methods:

We reviewed the progress in the field of drug-eluting IOLs and IOL surface modifications over the past five years as detailed in studies published in NLM/PubMed and Web of Science and surveyed the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), ClinicalTrials.gov and the ‘International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number (ISRCTN) registry for ongoing clinical studies

Results:

The surveyed published research papers were grouped in three broad categories, fourteen studies that described new methods for loading a drug onto the IOL, seven studies with direct assessment of the effects of drugs that were loaded to an IOL and fifteen studies that described new surface modifications of IOLs. There were no concluded or ongoing registered clinical studies during the past five years. Only two studies attempted to assess practical issues as sterilization and shelf life while potential issues with storage and transportation were not researched.

Conclusions:

While considerable progress is continually being made with regard to methods and materials, there is still little capitalization upon these research studies, with no commercially available drug-eluting IOL or IOL surface modification yet available. On the other hand, intracameral injection of specially formulated drugs to achieve the same outcomes is progressing rapidly and achieving commercial adoption.

Financial Disclosure:

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