PurposeWe improve the intraocular open-capsule devices (IOCD) for the prevention of posterior capsule opacification (PCO).MethodsA total of 45 New Zealand rabbit eyes were divided into six similar groups after crystalline lens evacuation. Each group was implanted with a hydrophilic intraocular lens (IOL) and a hydrophilic IOCD of different designs. In the first experiment (Part A), a square design ring with and without large apertures was compared to a round design ring without apertures. In the second experiment (Part B), a square design ring with large apertures was compared to square design IOCDs with small apertures of high and low density. PCO and Soemmering's ring were evaluated clinically, by the Miyake Apple view, and histologically. The results were compared to a control group of eyes implanted with a hydrophilic IOL only.ResultsAll devices showed significant prevention of PCO and Soemmering's ring compared to the control group. Part A: the square design with apertures had the lowest level of peripheral lens epithelial cells proliferation (protrusions). Part B: modifying the size and density of the apertures had no influence on those protrusions.ConclusionsThe IOCD significantly reduced the rate of PCO and its precursor, Soemmering's ring. The rings with the square edges and apertures produced the best results. The study was underpowered to determine the influence of the apertures design.Translational RelevanceThe IOCD has the potential to prevent up to 80% of the PCO cases; the most common complication after cataract surgery. The design of the ring is important for its success.

Background: The relation between health investment and research has been portrayed previously in several medical fields, showing a positive relation between economic resources and academic yield. Purpose: To assess the relations between various economic and bibliometric parameters in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (ORL-HNS) of the OECD countries. Methods: Data regarding bibliometric parameters in ORL-HNS; number of publications, citations, citations per document and H index, between the years 1996 and 2019, were gathered from the Scimago Journal and Country Rank source. These data were then analysed in several breakdowns-seldom county, regional and language comparisons, in order to assess variations in ORL-HNS scholar activity. Economic data regarding each OECD country; GDP per capita, total health expenditure as percent of the GDP and GERD as percent of the GDP were gathered from the OECD and World Bank websites. The correlation between economic and bibliometric indicators was analysed. Results: Among 209,949 documents analysed, a strong correlation was found between H index and health expenditure (r=0.734, p=0.000), and a moderate connection was found between H index and both GDP per capita (r=0.459, p=0.005) and GERD as percent of GDP (r=0.579, p=0.000). Health expenditure showed the strongest correlations to bibliometric parameters. Nonetheless, most data showed some degree of positive correlations between economics and scholar productivity. Conclusion: This study emphasizes the positive relation between scholar productivity and economic indicators, mostly health expenditure, in the OECD countries in the field of ORL-HNS, implying the importance of health investment to ORL-HNS research.