Effect of Healon5 and 4 other viscoelastic substances on intraocular pressure and endothelium after cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the ophthalmic viscoelastic device (OVD) Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%) with 4 other commonly used OVDs during phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation in terms of influence on intraocular pressure (IOP) postoperatively and endothelial cells preoperatively and postoperatively.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, Germany.


METHODS
This clinical randomized prospective study, in which patients and observer were masked, comprised 81 eyes. Seventy-four eyes (mean patient age 71.2 years +/- 7.8 [SD]) completed all preoperative and 5 postoperative examinations. The OVDs used were OcuCoat and Celoftal (hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 2.0%), Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate 3.0%-chondroitin sulfate 4.0%), Healon GV (sodium hyaluronate 1.4%), and Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%). Intraocular pressure was measured by standard Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively and 4 to 6 and 24 hours and 7, 30, and 90 days postoperatively. Endothelial cell counts were done preoperatively and 90 days postoperatively using a Pro/Koester WFSCM contact endothelial microscope. Exclusion criteria were IOP greater than 21 mm Hg at the preoperative examination, age younger than 40 years, significant corneal pathology, and a history or presence of uveitis or pseudoexfoliation syndrome.


RESULTS
All groups had increased IOP 4 hours postoperatively. The Healon5 group had the highest mean pressure (24.9 mm Hg) followed by the Viscoat group (23.6 mm Hg). The mean IOP in the other OVD groups was less than 22.1 mm Hg. These differences were not significant. Twenty-four hours postoperatively and at all subsequent examinations, mean IOP was below 20 mm Hg. The Healon5 group had the lowest mean endothelial cell loss (6.2%), significantly lower than in the other groups (P < .02).


CONCLUSIONS
With all 5 OVDs, endothelial cell loss was found, with the lowest in the Healon5 group, and IOP was increased 4 to 6 hours postoperatively. After 24 hours, no significant increases in IOP were noted.
Department of Ophthalmology, Humboldt University Berlin, Campus Virchow Klinikum, Germany.
M P
MP
Holzer
M R
MR
Tetz
G U
GU
Auffarth
R
R
Welt
H E
HE
Völcker
D000368:Aged; D002452:Cell Count; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011446:Prospective Studies
D065347:Hypromellose Derivatives; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008747:Methylcellulose; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates