Examining Penetration and Residual Depth in Modern Acrylic Foldable Intraocular Lenses: A Laboratory Study Using Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy to Compare Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Materials

Introduction The material of modern intraocular lenses must meet the highest standards and fulfill various requirements. It is crucial that the material shows the best biocompatibility and should be flexible for an uncomplicated implantation process through small corneal incisions but also sufficiently rigid for good stability and centering in the capsular bag. In addition, the optic must remain clear for life and retain the best optical properties. Methods In this laboratory experiment, we performed scratch tests for the mechanical assessment of acrylic intraocular lenses. The aim was to determine differences in the behavior in regard to the manufacturing process and water content of hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses. The scratch tests were performed using a Nano Scratch Tester. A conical indenter with a tip radius of 1 µm and a cone angle of 90° was selected to scratch the samples at three different constant loads of 5, 10, and 15 mN, respectively. The scratch length was set to 100 µm at a scratch speed of 200 µm/min. Hydrophilic and hydrophobic acrylic intraocular lenses (with different water content) were tested. Results The results showed that for sample A (hydrophilic acrylate), the penetration depth increases steadily with increasing force from 25-30 µm (5 mN) to 28-33 µm (10 mN) and 34-37 µm (15 mN). The penetration depths during the scratches seem to be load-dependent. In sample B (hydrophobic acrylate), the same forces lead to steadily increasing penetration depths: 25-30 µm (5 mN), 40-44 µm (10 mN), and 54-57 µm (15 mN). The evaluation of the residual depth showed much lower values for all samples. In the hydrophilic, softer samples (A), the residual depth was between 1 µm and 4 µm. In the hydrophobic, more solid, samples (B), the residual depth was more pronounced with values between 5 µm and 17 µm. The plastic influence and deformation zone seemed to be wider for the hydrophobic samples than for the hydrophilic samples. Conclusion The laboratory experiment confirms that modern, acrylic intraocular lenses are sensitive to scratches/touch, and penetration depths during scratching depend on the load. The remaining depths after the scratches are significantly lower and show a load dependence. The deforming zone was higher in the hydrophobic acrylates than in the hydrophilic acrylates. However, the results confirm that damage can occur with hydrophobic and hydrophilic acrylic materials, depending on the force applied. Therefore, careful handling during the preparation and implantation process is crucial to prevent permanent defects.