Influence of viscoelastic substances used in cataract surgery on corneal metabolism and endothelial morphology: comparison of Healon and Viscoat.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of cohesive and dispersive ophthalmic viscosurgical devices (OVDs) on endothelial morphology and corneal metabolism during cataract surgery.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria.

METHODS

In this prospective randomized blind study, 50 eyes of 43 patients were randomized into 2 groups before surgery. Phacoemulsification with implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens was performed in all patients. In half the patients, sodium hyaluronate 1% (Healon) was used as the OVD and in the other half, sodium hyaluronate 3%-chondroitin sulfate 4% (Viscoat). Corneal metabolism was evaluated by fluorophotometric measurement of corneal autofluorescence. The corneal fluorescence values were corrected for interference by fluorescence of the ocular lens. Specular microscopy (Noncon Robo SP800, Canon) was used to evaluate the endothelial cell density, coefficient of variation, and percentage of hexagonal cells. Examinations were performed preoperatively and 3 days, 1 and 4 weeks, and 3 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

There were no significant changes between preoperative and postoperative endothelial cell density measurements in either group (P =.1717). The percentage of hexagonal cells was similar (P =.3489); however, there was a slightly increasing tendency toward polymorphism in both groups. Corneal autofluorescence decreased 3 days after surgery, increased after 1 week, and decreased again subsequently in both groups. There was no significant difference in the influence on corneal metabolism between the 2 OVDs (P =.9899).

CONCLUSIONS

There was no significant difference between Healon and Viscoat. Thus, this study did not confirm an advantage of either for endothelial protection of healthy corneas.