The posterior capsular opacification (PCO) represents the most significant cause ofvisual impairment after cataract surgery. During the last decade, a great deal of work hasbeen conducted to analyze which intraocular lens (IOL) property could primarilyinfluence the rate and severity of PCO. It was found that the geometrical design of IOLaffects the rate of PCO and it has been proven that a sharp IOL posterior optic edgeimproves the prevention of PCO. On the other hand, the surface properties of the IOLbiomaterial also appeared to play a relevant role in preventing PCO.In this work we investigate, with nanometer scale resolution, the physical propertiesof the surface for the IOL biomaterials currently in use in the clinical environment: polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), silicone, hydrophilic acrylic and hydrophobic acrylic. AnAtomic Force Microscope was used both to measure the topography and adhesiveness ofIOLs' optic surface. Analysis of IOLs was performed in liquid environment. The topography measurements of the IOLs' optic were performed using anAutoprobe CP (Veeco, Sunnyvale, CA) operated in the contact mode and V-shapedcantilevers with a 0.01 Newton/meter (N/m) nominal elastic constant. The topography ofIOLs' surface revealed different features strongly correlated with both the lensbiomaterial and the processes used to manufacture the IOLs. The root mean square (RMS)roughness of the IOL optic surface was significantly different between lenses of variousmaterials (P<0.001): hydrophobic acrylic and silicone IOLs have shown the lowestsurface roughness, i.e., 3.8 ± 0.2 nanometer (nm) and 4.0 ± 0.5 nm respectively, whereasthe highest surface roughness (7.0 ± 0.6 nm) was measured for PMMA lenses. The meanRMS roughness of the hydrophilic acrylic lens was 5.0 ± 0.5 nm.The adhesive properties of IOLs' surface was studied using a NanoScope III (Veeco,Sunnyvale, CA), operated in the Force-vs-Distance (f-d) mode with rectangularcantilevers of nominal elastic constant of 10 N/m. A statistically significant correlationbetween adhesion properties of each IOL and their constituent material was measured(P<0.001). The hydrophobic acrylic IOL exhibited the largest mean value for theadhesive force (283.75 ± 0.14 nanoNewton, nN) followed by the hydrophilic acrylic(84.76 ± 0.94 nN), PMMA (45.77 ± 0.47 nN) and silicone IOLs (2.10 ± 0.01 nN).AFM was demonstrated to be an effective and accurate tool for the analysis of theIOL's optic. The surface properties of the biomaterials used to manufacture IOLs areimportant factors as they can influence the incidence and severity of PCO. While furtherstudies are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of PCO development and the interfaceinteractions between the IOL and capsule, the results from this work may enhance thetheory of manufacturing materials with smooth and adhesive optic surface to preventPCO.