Experimental studies on viscofluids for intraocular surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of using diluted viscofluids during intraocular surgery.


METHODS
Laboratory for Intraocular Microsurgery and Implants, Goldschleger Eye Research Institute, and the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Hashomer, Israel.


METHODS
Diluted hyaluronic acid (0.06 to 0.12%) in balanced salt solutions were irrigated through the phacoemulsification machine or a separate irrigation line (i.e., anterior chamber maintainer). Irrigation was facilitated by increasing the atmospheric pressure in the bottle using compressed air. Experimental surgery was done in rabbit eyes.


RESULTS
A viscous fluid could be irrigated at any practical rate by increasing the height of the bottle, increasing the atmospheric pressure within the bottle, or both. Experimental surgeries showed that viscofluids maintained intraocular pressure and anterior chamber volume, allowed safe intraocular manipulations, reduced turbulence in the anterior chamber, and probably provided tissue protection.


CONCLUSIONS
Viscofluids irrigated using a high-pressure system combined the advantages of continuous irrigation of fluids and the protective qualities of viscoelastics in this rabbit eye study.
Assia
E I
EI
Department of Ophthalmology, Meir Hospital, Sapir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
Yehezkel
M
M
Ezov
N
N
Treister
G
G
Blumenthal
M
M
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000502:physiology; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D007552:Isotonic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011312:Pressure; D011817:Rabbits; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods*; D014783:Viscosity
D007552:Isotonic Solutions; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid