Empty-bag technique for acrylic intraocular lens implantation using Healon5.
OBJECTIVE
To determine how often the empty-bag technique (EBT) for injecting an acrylic foldable intraocular lens (IOL) into the capsular bag using Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%) will require a 2-compartment technique to remove the ophthalmic viscosurgical device (OVD) and compare this with that of a standard injection method using Healon5.


METHODS
Cincinnati Eye Institute and Ambulatory Surgical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.


METHODS
Forty-one eyes of 40 patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. In Group A, standard capsular bag expansion was performed with Healon5 before implantation of an acrylic posterior chamber (PC) IOL. In Group B, Healon5 was placed in the anterior chamber followed by balanced salt solution expansion of the capsular bag before acrylic PC IOL implantation. In all patients, complete OVD removal was attempted with the automated aspiration tip anterior to the optic (rock 'n roll technique). The number of patients in each group who required placement of the aspiration tip posterior to the optic for complete removal was compared. Early postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) was also compared.


RESULTS
In Group A, 15 (75%) of 20 eyes required placement of the aspiration tip posterior to the optic for complete OVD removal and in Group B, 1 (0.05%) of 20 eyes. The postoperative IOP was similar in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The EBT decreased the likelihood that a 2-compartment OVD removal method would be necessary when using Healon5 for acrylic PC IOL implantation. The limitations of this new technique must be fully understood before it is used.
Cionni
Robert J
RJ
Cincinnati Eye Institute, Ohio 45242, USA.
Temel
Mustafa
M
Marques
Daniela M V
DM
Marques
Frederico F
FF
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000601:surgery; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular / Q000379:methods*; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid