Reduced Silicone Oil Adherence to Silicone Intraocular Lens by Surface Modification with 2-Methacryloyloxyethyl Phosphoryl-Choline

Purpose: to evaluate and compare the interaction of silicone oil–intraocular lens (IOLs) biomaterial in 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphoryl-choline (MPC) -modified IOLs and various widely used IOLs in vitro.Methods: Five groups of foldable IOLs, including 3-piece hydrophobic silicone IOLs, MPC-modified silicone IOLs, 3-piece hydrophilic hydrogel IOLs, one-piece hydrophilic acrylic IOLs and one-piece hydrophobic acrylic IOLs were photographed after immersion in silicone oil. The silicone oil coverage of the anterior and posterior surfaces of each IOL was measured using EPCO Image-analysis software. The hydrophilicity of the IOL surface was characterized by the water contact angle.Results: hydrophilic IOLs, such as MPC-modified silicone IOLs, hydrophilic acrylic IOLs and hydrogel IOLs having a lower contact angle exhibited less silicone oil adherence than hydrophobic IOLs, including both silicone IOLs and hydrophobic acrylic IOLs (p = 0.000, p < 0.05).Conclusions: MPC-modified hydrophilic silicone IOLs reduce silicone oil adherence, and thus may meet the need of a foldable IOL suitable for vitreoretinal patients.