Heparin-modified lenses for eyes at risk for breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier during cataract surgery

To determine the appropriateness of heparin-surface-modified (HSM) lenses in eyes at risk for breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier, 36 consecutive patients with cataracts associated with chronic recurrent or past uveitis had extracapsular cataract extraction and insertion of an HSM posterior chamber one-piece intraocular lens (IOL). Examinations for implant precipitates (IPs), fibrin membranes, IOL synechias, and visual outcome were done postoperatively. Results show that despite a recurrence of overt uveitis with keratic precipitates in 13 eyes (36.1%), IPs were seen in only six eyes (16.6%) and were generally small and few in number. An acute postoperative fibrin reaction, which is related to blood-aqueous barrier breakdown, occurred in nine eyes. Implant synechias were found in three eyes. We found that HSM provided a cell-free IOL surface in the majority of eyes at high risk for blood-aqueous barrier breakdown and uveitis. Heparin surface modification does not prevent complications but tends to protect the IOL from inflammation changes that might otherwise occur.