Purpose
To investigate the effect on porcine retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells of modified intraocular irrigating solutions compared with BSS and BSS plus.Methods
Confluent cultures of RPE cells were incubated in experimental intraocular irrigating solutions. The cells were then examined for breakdown of DNA by the TUNEL procedure. Fragmentation of the DNA from cells was also confirmed by flow cytometry.Results
Most of the experimentally, treated cells exhibited a shrunken appearance for up to 72 h. There was a steady increase in the number of cells labeled by the TUNEL method in three solutions with time. The data demonstrated that the influence of solutions on the percentage of RPE cell nuclei that gave a clear positive TUNEL stain was, in ascending order: modified solution > BSS > BSS plus. Of the three solutions tested, BSS plus showed least apoptosis.Conclusions
It is suggested that BSS plus is less harmful to RPE cells than the other solutions tested. Introduction of other adjunctive solutions of antibiotics, mydriatics, miotics, and steroid, resulting in an altered electrolyte balance, pH, or osmolality in the solution, may compromise the safety and efficacy of a properly formulated and packaged solution.