The eye has a natural lens that bends (refracts) and focuses light rays on the retina to help us see. However, it becomes cloudy with age. This condition is commonly known as cataracts, and it leads to blurry, hazy, or less colorful vision.
Today, surgeons can replace such a cloudy lens with an intraocular lens (also known as an IOL). It is delivered into the eye using an injector. Portions of this injector, including cartridges, are coated with hydrophilic coatings. These coatings ensure the intraocular lenses glide smoothly and safely during cataract surgery. As such, hydrophilic medical coatings are critical for the success of this procedure and the safety and comfort of the patient.
In this article, we explore the role of hydrophilic coatings for IOL injectors. We will discuss how they help provide safer, simpler and more effective intraocular lens (IOL) delivery.
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a medical condition in which the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. This causes blurry or distorted vision.
Aging is the most common factor that causes cataracts. Usually, after age 40, the normal proteins in the eye lens start to break down. This leads to a cloudy lens that fails to focus light rays on the retina.
Other problems that can cause cataracts include diabetes, eye injury, and extended exposure to UV rays.
Here is a quick list of symptoms a patient may experience if they have a cataract:
- Blurry vision
- Ghosted image
- Less visibility at night
- Faded or Yellow vision
Cataract Surgery – What is it and Why is it Necessary?
How are cataracts treated?
At first, doctors (ophthalmologists) may suggest the use of brighter lights at home or the office and eyeglasses. However, if the Cataract becomes severe, then cataract surgery is usually used to avoid impacts on a patient’s normal activities.
Cataract surgery includes the insertion of an artificial lens into the patient’s eye. This lens is commonly known as an Intraocular Lens (IOL).
Such a medical procedure is both safe and effective. It is performed on an outpatient basis. Only the area around your eyes is numbed with medication, and the patient remains awake during the surgery.
The Role of An IOL Injector during Cataract Surgery
An Intraocular Lens (IOL) is an artificial alternative to the eye’s natural lens. The size and power of such a tiny artificial lens depends upon the length of your eye and the curve of your cornea. The IOL is made of silicone, acrylic, or other materials.
The eye is one of the most delicate parts of the human body. As a result, the utmost safety and precision are both critical during intraocular lens delivery.
Surgeons use a high-end IOL injector to deliver these tiny, artificial lenses into the eye during cataract or refractive surgery. It allows them to deliver IOLs through smaller incisions of about 2.2 to 5 mm.
The key benefits of using a high-performance IOL injector are as follows:
- Prevents trauma to the delicate structures of the eye
- Significantly reduces potential damage to the eye’s natural lens
- Decreases the risk of infection during and after delivery
- Improves procedural accuracy
What are Hydrophilic Coatings for IOL Injectors?
Hydrophilic medical coatings are a type of surface modification (surface treatment) commonly used on medical devices. They are lubricious coatings that create a surface with low friction and high wettability. The term “hydro” means water, while “philic” means affinity or love. As such, the main purpose of hydrophilic coatings is to make the surface “slippery-when-wet”.
The coatings form a highly lubricious thin layer of hydrogel on the surface of the device. This coating drastically reduces friction. It can improve the movement of an intraocular lens through the injector and enhance precision.
Such coatings can also be formulated to possess other helpful properties and functions. Examples include biocompatibility, being antimicrobial, reducing protein adsorption, and more. To learn more about medical-use hydrophilic coatings, refer to our in-depth article, Hydrophilic Coatings for Medical Devices: Intro, Benefits & Uses.
Benefits of Using Hydrophilic Coatings to Deliver Intraocular Lenses
IOL injectors use cartridges to hold and deliver a folded intraocular lens during the surgery. It also allows the intraocular lens (IOL) to be folded into a compact shape, allowing it to pass through a tiny incision (between 2.2 and 5 mm).
The inner surface of IOL injector cartridges can be coated with hydrophilic medical coatings. This helps improve movement and implantation.
Here are the top 5 benefits of applying hydrophilic coatings to IOL Injector Cartridges:
1. Enhanced Precision
Hydrophilic coatings are slippery-when-wet surface modifications. When the hydrophilic coatings are exposed to liquids they create a thin, lubricious layer inside the cartridge.
The use of the coatings significantly reduces the friction between the intraocular lens and the cartridge wall. As a result, the IOL can glide smoothly with less pressure. Such smooth and precise insertion leads to improved procedural accuracy.
2. Eliminates the Risk of IOL Damage
Intraocular lenses are delicate. Hydrophilic coatings create a lubricated surface inside the cartridge, which prevents deformation and offers a smooth path for IOL delivery. This helps maintain the lens’s optical integrity and shape. As such, surgeons can safely and easily unfold the IOL inside the eye.
3. Reduced Protein Adsorption
Protein adsorption can hamper vision after surgery. It leads to cell adhesion and the formation of PCO with various adverse effects.
Hydrophilic coatings can also help resist protein buildup. This helps to maintain a clean and sterile path for IOL delivery. Less protein adsorption significantly reduces the risk of immune activation and inflammatory responses.
4. Antimicrobial Properties
Foreign materials or contaminants can cause inflammation or irritation in the patient. Hydromer®, Inc. hydrophilic coatings can custom-formulate coatings with antimicrobial properties. These coatings can also help prevent microscopic particles and debris from being generated during IOL insertion. Such properties can drastically reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.
Hydromer® Hydrophilic Coatings for IOL Injectors
Hydromer®, Inc. is a US-based hydrophilic coatings manufacturer. We have 40+ years of experience manufacturing and supplying innovative lubricious hydrophilic coatings for IOL Injectors and many other medical devices. We understand the importance of safe and effective cataract surgery to restore vision and improve the quality of life for millions of people worldwide.
That’s why our company uses only the highest quality ingredients to manufacture best-in-class, custom medical coatings with the following properties:
- Highly lubricious
- Wettability
- Antimicrobial
- Drug-eluting capabilities
- Biocompatibility
- Low particulate
- Enhanced adhesion
- Thromboresistance to reduce blood clotting
We do not just offer off-the-shelf products. Rather, all of our hydrophilic coatings can be custom-formulated. This ensures you will get a solution that meets your specific product requirements.
Get a Custom Medical Device Coating
Our team includes highly qualified Ph.D. chemists, scientists, engineers, and regulatory experts. We can help you no matter what stage of the product development process you are in. What sets us apart from our competitors is the wide range of support services we offer our medical device manufacturing partners.
Here is a quick list of support services offered by Hydromer:
- Research and Development (R&D) services
- Contract coating services
- Worldwide supply of high-quality, hydrophilic coatings
- Specialized Analytical Testing
- Custom Machine Building
- Turn-key Operations
- Technology Transfer Services
- Technical consulting and support services
- Regulatory consulting and support services
Contact our team of experts today to learn more about our services.
