title: Protective effect of different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices on corneal endothelium during severe phacoemulsification model in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the protective effect of different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) on corneal endothelial cells against relatively severe phacoemulsification damage in a rabbit model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four rabbit eyes were randomly assigned to four similar groups: in three groups the aqueous humor was completely replaced by Visiol (TRB CHEMEDICA, München, Germany), Biolon (Bio-Technology General Ltd., Kiryat Malachi, Israel), and Viscoat (Alcon, Puurs, Belgium) and in the control group no OVD was applied. Endothelial cell counts were performed prior to initiating the study. All eyes were exposed to continuous 5 minutes of phacoemulsification. Endothelial cell counts were repeated 4 days postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Viscoat showed the highest endothelial cell loss (30%), followed by Biolon (25%), Visiol (22%), and the control group (19%). None of the differences between the groups were found to be statistically significant, although they were within each group (P = .028).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the tested OVDs demonstrated protective effect on corneal endothelial cells in comparison to the control group. This model was found to be too aggressive for the demonstration of the protective effect of different OVDs even for hard cataract.
authors.affiliation: Harlan Biotech Israel Ltd, Rehovot, Israel.
authors.forename: Shmuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben-Eliahu
authors.forename: Kfir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tal
authors.forename: Asher
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Milstein
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Levin-Harrus
authors.forename: Nati
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ezov
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kleinmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019610:Cytoprotection; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004728:Endothelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D013997:Time Factors; D055675:Viscosupplements / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D055675:Viscosupplements; C559771:Visiol; C501944:chondroitin sulfate, sodium hyaluronate drug combination; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates