Protective Effect of Different Ophthalmic Viscosurgical Devices on Corneal Endothelial Cells During Phacoemulsification: Rabbit Model

PURPOSE To evaluate the protective effect of different ophthalmic viscosurgical devices on corneal endothelial cells during phacoemulsification in a rabbit modelSETTING Harlan Biotech Israel and Ophthalmology Department, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, IsraelDESIGN Experimental studyMETHODS Rabbit eyes were randomly assigned to 3 equally sized groups Endothelial cell counts were performed in all eyes before initiation of the study The aqueous humor was completely replaced by Biolon (sodium hyaluronate 1 0%) in Group A, by a combination of Viscoat (sodium chondroitin sulfate 4 0% sodium hyaluronate 3 0%) and Provisc (sodium chondroitin sulfate 1 0%) using the soft-shell technique in Group B, and by a combination of Visiol (sodium hyaluronate 2 0% mannitol 0 5%) and Biolon using the soft-shell technique in Group C The eyes were exposed to alternating 10 seconds of phacoemulsification and a 10-second pause until a total exposure time of 2 5 minutes elapsed Endothelial cell counts were repeated 3 days after surgeryRESULTS The study used 18 rabbit eyes 6 in each group Group A had the highest endothelial cell loss (13%) followed by Group B (7%), and Group C (4%) The difference in cell loss between Group C and Group A was statistically significant (P = 037)CONCLUSION The study showed the efficiency and advantages of the soft-shell technique using the combination of Visiol and Biolon over Biolon alone