It is important to elucidate mechanisms of lens opacification in order to development of anti-cataract drugs based on evidence. In this study, we show that the mechanisms for the lens opacification is different in three hereditary cataract model rats (UPLR, SCR and ICR). In addition, we investigated that the preventive effect of eye drops containing disulfiram on lens opacification. In UPLR, excessive NO cause damage to the mitochondrial genome, resulting in a decrease in ATP production and increase in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity. The decrease in ATP content cause the decrease in Ca²⁺-ATPase function resulting in the elevation in lens Ca²⁺ and opacification. In SCR and ICR, excessive NO cause an enhancement of lipid peroxidation resulting in the oxidative inhibition of Ca²⁺-ATPase. The decrease in Ca²⁺-ATPase activity cause the elevation in the level of lens Ca²⁺, thus leading to lens opacification. Furthermore, the instillation of eye drops containing a disulfiram and hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin inclusion complex delays lens opacification in hereditary cataract model rats.

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The binding of bacteria to IOLs during implantation and the colonization of IOLs by bacteria after implantation appear to contribute to the pathogenesis of postoperative endophthalmitis. We investigated the bacterial adhesion to IOLs, the bacterial infiltration to lens capsule, and the preventive effect of drug delivery IOL and SCL. Results: After 48 and 72 hrs, it was observed that silicone supported the least amount of biofilm formation (p<0.05), with acrylic demonstrating the greatest amount of stainable biofilm (p<0.0005). Staphylococcus epidermidis aggregated on the surface of anterior and posterior lens capsule at 24 hrs. MRSA strain infiltrated to the anterior and posterior lens capsule. The new drug released SCLs showed along with prevention of bacterial proliferation, and preventive effects against endophthalmitis were similar between antibiotic-treated IOL implantation and intracameral antibiotic administration.

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The aim of this study was to examine the effects on anterior capsule contraction and posterior capsular opacification (PCO) of leaving the ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) in the capsule. Five japanese albino rabbits were prepared; after the indication of general anesthesia, phacoemulsification and aspiration were performed. In one eye, an intraocular lens (IOL) was implanted and the OVD was aspirated; in the fellow eye, the OVD was aspirated from the anterior chamber only, not from the capsule. To compare anterior capsule contraction, diaphanoscopic images of the anterior eye were taken at 1 and 3 weeks after surgery and quantified. Eyes were removed in postoperative week 3 and histologically studied to evaluate PCO. Anterior capsule contraction and PCO had progressed significantly in the remnant OVD group by postoperative week 3. Our results suggest the importance of adhesion between lens capsule and IOL in inhibiting anterior capsule contraction and PCO.

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