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Newer viscoelastics allow more options
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TORONTO — Recently developed viscoelastic products combine both pseudo-dispersive and cohesive viscoelastic behaviors, and surgeons may find that this takes some getting used to. A surgeon here has developed techniques that take advantage of the new materials’ characteristics to make cataract surgery safer.
The new products, sometimes called “viscoadaptives,” include Healon5 from Pharmacia and iVisc Phaco from Bohus Biotech, which is distributed in Canada.
“There’s a lot of interest in this now because surgeons using Healon5 realize there are some maneuvers that are different from before,” said Steve A. Arshinoff, MD. “If you want to get broad use of Healon5, it’s a lot better if you use it with the ultimate soft shell technique.”
Dr. Arshinoff developed the ultimate soft shell technique (USST), in which Healon5 is used in combinations with balanced salt solution to facilitate capsulorrhexis and other maneuvers.
“The USST is a new ophthalmic viscosurgical device strategy … designed to overcome the drawbacks of viscoadaptives,” Dr. Arshinoff said.
Learn more about the new materials and how to use them in the upcoming April 15 print edition of Ocular Surgery News, as part of our Spotlight on Viscoelastics.