Cyclosporin effectively inhibits posterior capsule opacification after phacoemulsification in rabbits: a preliminary study

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether cyclosporin A prevents or reduce posterior capsule opacification after phacoemulsification surgery in rabbit eyes. METHODS: Twenty rabbits underwent cataract surgery in their right eyes were randomized into two groups. In group 1, 0.1 mL cyclosporin A (0.5 mg/mL) was given into the capsular bag after phacoemulsification and 0.1 mL cyclosporin A (0.5 mg/mL) was injected subconjunctivally once every 3 days for 1 week. Group 2 served as a control group. The development of posterior capsule opacification was assessed weekly, its density was graded clinically, and the proliferation of lens epithelial cells was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: On clinical assessment, cyclosporin A was significantly effective in preventing posterior capsule opacification compared with controls (P = 0.0045). On histological analysis, there was significantly reduced proliferative activity on posterior capsules in the treatment group, in contrast to multilayer lens epithelial cells proliferation in the control group. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results indicate that cyclosporin A is effective in suppressing posterior capsule opacification in rabbits, yet requires further investigation.