Effects of adding chondroitin sulfate during cataract surgery intraocular pressure, laser flare and corneal changes

Healon5 versus Viscoat during cataract surgery: intraocular pressure, laser flare and corneal change

Article specifications

This Randomized, Comparative clinical trial was published in 2000 in Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (IF 2016:2.342) by German ophthalmologists. In this study the postoperative effect of Viscoat (sodium hyaluronate3.0%–chondroitin sulfate 4.0%) and Healon5 (sodium hyaluronate 2.3%) on intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell counts and laser flare was evaluated. 48 eyes of 48 patients undergoing routine phacoemulsification followed by foldable IOL implantation were enrolled. Either Healon5 or Viscoat was used randomly during phacoemulsification. The aspiration technique was standardized. IOP, CCT, endothelial cell counts and laser flare were compared pre and postoperatively.

Results

There was neither a statistically nor a clinically significant difference in endothelial cell loss after the use of Healon5 or Viscoat in routine cataract surgery. However, the IOP in the early postoperative period was higher in the Viscoat group than in the Healon5 group. With the standardized aspiration technique used in this study Healon5 could be removed completely from the anterior chamber, whereas Viscoat partly remained in the eye, coating the corneal endothelium. However, we recommend this aspiration technique because prolonged aspiration maneuvers might lead to corneal endothelial damage. In the early postoperative period the Viscoat group demonstrated a higher increase in IOP than the Healon5 group. Therefore, particularly in eyes with an already damaged optic nerve or impairment of the drainage system, precautions are necessary.