Comparison of the corneal endothelial protective effects of Healon-D and Viscoat.
BACKGROUND
The use of dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) has been shown to provide significant protection against air bubble damage to the corneal endothelium when compared with cohesive OVDs. We compared the corneal endothelial protective effects of a new dispersive OVD, Healon-D, with Viscoat.


METHODS
Healon-D and Viscoat were used in a randomized and masked fashion in the anterior chamber of 40 rabbit eyes during a procedure where ultrasound at 70% continuous energy was delivered for 2 min. Two millilitres of air bubbles were injected into the anterior chamber during the first minute of the procedure on each eye. Corneas were then stained with trypan blue and alizarin red and evaluated via light microscopy for endothelial injury. Both denuding of the endothelial layer, as well as damage to endothelial cells were quantified by using the Evaluation of Posterior Capsule Opacification digital imaging system.


RESULTS
The denuded area for eyes treated with Healon-D and Viscoat were not significantly different (medians of 0.004167and 0.003333, respectively, P = 0.8908). There was no significant difference in the area of endothelial cell damaged (medians of 0.02183 and 0.01433, respectively, P = 0.4565). When the denuded and damaged areas were calculated together, there was also no difference in the total injured area (medians of 0.05817 and 0.05821, respectively, P = 0.5740).


CONCLUSIONS
The new dispersive OVD Healon-D is equally as effective as Viscoat in protecting the corneal endothelial layer from denuding and damage from air bubbles during anterior segment surgery.
Peck
Carolee M Cutler
CM
John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA.
Joos
Zachary P
ZP
Zaugg
Brian E
BE
Abdel-Aziz
Salwa
S
Stringham
Jack D
JD
Werner
Liliana
L
Mamalis
Nick
N
Olson
Randall J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects*; D002807:Chondroitin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D055682:Viscoelastic Substances; C501944:chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate drug combination; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002807:Chondroitin; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates