J Korean Ophthalmol Soc.  2002 Nov;43(11):2273-2279.

Protective Effects of Viscoelastic Substances on air Bubble Damage During Phacoemulsification

• Kim MJ
• Park JW
• Kang SJ
• Kim HL
• Lee JB
• Kim EK

Abstract

PURPOSE: To determine whether viscoelastic materials are effective to protect the corneal endothelium from air bubble damage.
METHODS
Human eye bank (n=12) and rabbit (n=22) eyes underwent a standardized phacoemulsification procedure with or without viscoelastic material [1% sodium hyaluronate (Healon(R)), 1.4% sodium hyaluronate (Healon GV(R)), 3% sodium hyaluronate with 4% chondroitin sulfate (Viscoat(R))]. The integrity of the endothelium was examined after the procedure with F-actin staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
RESULTS
In the phacoemulsification experiment without viscoelastic material, with Healon, and with Healon GV, the endothelium of both human and rabbit corneas had many areas of cell loss in a pattern consistent with air bubble damage. But with Viscoat, endothelial cells remained intact.
CONCLUSIONS
We found that Viscoat was effective to protect the endothelium from air bubble damage. Viscoat seems to protect the endothelium by acting as a physical barrier.

Keyword

Air bubbles; Corneal endothelium; Viscoelastics

MeSH Terms

Actins
Chondroitin Sulfates
Cornea
Endothelial Cells
Endothelium
Endothelium, Corneal
Eye Banks
Humans
Hyaluronic Acid
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Phacoemulsification*
Viscoelastic Substances*
Actins
Chondroitin Sulfates
Hyaluronic Acid
Viscoelastic Substances