Abstract

FR.14.05

Cytoprotective effects of a blue light–absorbing intraocular lens on human retinal pigment epithelium

Marcus Kernt, Christoph Hirneiss, Aljoscha Neubauer, Raffael Liegl, Carl-Arnold Lackerbauer, Kirsten Eibl, Armin Wolf, Michael Ulbig, Anselm Kampik
Augenklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München

Objective
Cumulative light-exposure is significantly associated with progression of age related macular degeneration (AMD). In order to prevent the retina from blue-light damage in pseudophacia, blue-light-absorbing intraocular lenses (IOL) have recently been developed. This study compares possible protective effects of the blue-light-absorbing ALCON SN60AT IOL to the untinted, UV-absorbing SA60AT IOL regarding light-induced stress on human RPE.
Methods
Primary human RPE cells were exposed to white light and either a SN60AT or SA60AT IOL was placed in the light beam. After 15 to 60 minutes of irradiation viability, induction of apoptosis and cell death was determined in primary human RPE cells. Expression of vascular endothelial growth-factor A (VEGF-A) and the anti-apoptotic XIAP protein and their mRNA were determined by RT-PCR, Western-Blot analysis and ELISA.
Results
Light exposure decreased cell viability in a time-of-irradiation-dependent manner. Light-induced cell death and apoptosis, as well as decrease of XIAP expression and cellular viability and was significantly reduced by both, the SN60AT and SA60AT IOL. In addition, these protective effects regarding light-induced cell damage were significantly stronger in presence of the blue-light filtering SN60AT IOL compared to the SA60AT IOL.
Conclusions
Both, UV-filtering and blue-light-absorbing IOLs reduce light-induced RPE-damage. The blue-light-absorbing IOL further reduced damage compared to the conventional IOL, which supports the hypothesis of possibly also preventing retinal damage in clinical use.

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