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Phaco can be performed safely without the use of viscoelastic
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ROME — Phacoemulsification without the use of viscoelastic is a safe and effective procedure, according to a study presented here.
Continuous anterior chamber irrigation maintains a stable chamber and protects the endothelium from surgically induced damage. Potential advantages of not using viscoelastic are a lower risk of IOP spikes and a faster surgical time.
"Cataract surgery can be carried out in 3 minutes," Bojan Pajic, MD, said at the winter meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons.
In a study carried out in Switzerland, 126 patients were divided in two groups — one operated with viscoelastic and one without.
"Postoperative data showed no significant difference between the groups regarding cell size, cell shape and IOP," Dr. Pajic said.
However, a significant correlation was observed between cell loss and age of the patients in both groups.