Quantitative Evaluation of Human Lens Epithelial Cell Viability and Cytolysis by Distilled Water Ex Vivo

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the role of distilled water (DW) in isolated human lens epithelial cells (LECs) viability and lysis ex vivo.Methods: After immersion in DW or balanced salt solution (BSS) for 1-, 2-, and 3-minutes, respectively, the cell viability of LECs was quantitatively evaluated. In addition, the capsule samples soaked in DW or BSS for 1-, 2-, and 3-minutes were combined with rinse for 1 minute to analyze the difference of LECs shedding percentage in each subgroup. The histopathological changes of the samples after treating were observed.Results: The percentage of LECs shed in DW immersion combined with rinse was significantly higher than in DW immersion alone (p all <0.001). In the subgroup soaked in DW for 3 minutes, the death number, mortality, and the percentage of cell shedding of LECs was the most (p all <0.001). The histopathological changes showed that the cell destruction in the DW subgroup for 1-, 2-, and 3-minutes, and the transmission electron microscope results showed that the cells were partially detached from the capsule in the DW 3 minutes subgroup.Conclusions: Soaking in the DW can cause LECs death, and DW immersion combined with rinse was an effective method to remove LECs. The histopathology changes of treated DW suggested cellular necrosis was one type of LECs death mechanism.