Purpose: To develop a noninvasive technique for identifying the specific type of intraocular lens (IOL) implanted in porcine eyes.
Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, and Department of Chemistry Education, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
Methods: A confocal Raman spectroscopy system was used to identify various acrylic (AcrySof SA60AT [Alcon], Sensar AR40e [Advanced Medical Optics], I-Flex [I-Medical Intraocular Lenses]) and silicone (ClariFlex, [Advanced Medical Optics]) IOLs implanted in enucleated pig eyes. Confocal Raman spectra of IOLs were obtained by photoexcitation using the 514.5 nm line from an argon-ion laser, with a power of 1 mW at the sample and an acquisition time of 10 to 100 seconds.
Results: All IOLs, including those composed of acrylic optic material from different manufacturers, exhibited distinct spectral peaks before and after implantation in pig eyes.
Conclusion: Confocal Raman spectroscopy may represent a novel method for obtaining specific information about implanted IOLs through direct and noninvasive confocal observation of spectral characteristics.